(ANN/AFP/THE STAR) – It’s common knowledge that a sleepless night impacts both energy levels and morale, but the effects don’t stop there.
According to a Kuwaiti study published in the Journal of Immunology, a single night’s sleep deprivation is enough to alter the composition of immune cells, thereby increasing the risk of chronic inflammation over the long term.
The researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute showed that our immune system is particularly sensitive to variations in sleep.
Repeated sleep deprivation could lead to a chronic inflammatory state, increasing the risk of conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular (heart) disorders.
Numerous studies have pointed out the connection between sleep disorders and certain chronic diseases. For example, chronic inflammation plays a key role in the onset of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
But the precise impact of sleep on certain immune cells, especially monocytes, remains poorly understood. These cells, essential to innate immunity, protect the body from infections, remove damaged cells and regulate inflammation.
To better understand this interaction, the researchers studied 237 healthy adults with a variety of body mass indices (BMIs).
Using sophisticated activity sensors, they analysed the participants’ sleep patterns over the course of a week.
Participants wore a device that accurately measured their sleep duration, quality and disturbances.
The results were striking: obese participants had poorer sleep quality than slim people, and exhibited elevated levels of inflammatory markers.
By studying their monocytes, the researchers observed a decrease in so-called “classical” monocytes (which provide immune surveillance) and an increase in “non-classical” monocytes, known to produce inflammatory substances.
However, one of the most surprising findings of the study was that this rise in non-classical monocytes was not solely reliant on body weight.
Even in slim participants, disrupted sleep resulted in a comparable inflammatory reaction, indicating that sleep deprivation alone is enough to impair the immune system.
To confirm these results, the researchers conducted an experiment on five healthy young adults, keeping them awake for 24 hours.
Blood tests revealed alterations in their immune profiles similar to those observed in obese participants.
In other terms, just one night without sleep is enough to trigger an inflammatory reaction in the body.
For study lead investigator Dr Fatema Al-Rashed, these findings highlight a growing public health issue, since increased screen time and changing lifestyles are disrupting sleep cycles.
“This disruption in sleep has profound implications for immune health and overall well-being,” she explains in a news release.
Evidently, this study verifies that sleep serves a purpose beyond mere rest: it acts as a true regulator of our immune system.
In the long run, consistently experiencing short or low-quality sleep may lead to chronic illnesses by fostering ongoing inflammation.
This is a powerful argument for rethinking our habits and giving sleep the importance it deserves.
So, think twice before you pull an all-nighter, your immune system will thank you for it!
