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The answer could be a good nights sleep.

We also share our tips on how to sleep well so you might reduce the risk of infection.

A woman in yellow pyjamas dancing as she wakes up in naturally light room

Dr. Frederic Bertley is a scientist (immunologist), educator, and advocate for critical and innovative thinking.

The benefits of good sleep are well documented, from improved both mental and physical health.

One key role sleep plays is regulating and maintaining a healthy immune system.

A woman with dark hair sits up in bed blowing her nose because she has a cold

REM sleep (rapid eye movement) is astage of sleepwhere we experience dreams.

It’s responsible for emotional processing, memory consolidation and brain development.

But exactly how does this translate to fighting off colds?

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However, there are factors that change how effective these vaccines are, and a key one is sleep.

Put simply, better sleep results in more immune system activity that helps fight off infection.

Apathogenis an organism that causes disease.

A woman waking up groggy in the morning experiencing sleep inertia

Can a good night’s sleep help you recover from a cold more quickly?

Whats the impact of sleep deprivation on the immune system?

Also, lack of sleep leads to lower antibody production against invading pathogens.

A woman in bed reading a book with a cup of tea in hand and a lamp on the bedside table, as she completes her nighttime routine

A disrupted sleep can also impact the amount ofdeep sleepwe get.

So, avoiding caffeine after midday will make it easier tofall asleepand stay asleep throughout the night.

A woman with hay fever wipes stuffy nose in bed

A woman lying on her side sleeping with a handdrawn thought bubble over her head to show she�s thinking

The image shows a curly haired man sleeping on his side while clutching a stuffed animal

A woman with dark brown hair lies on her side staring at the back of a white alarm clock that shows the time as 2.30am

Woman sleeping on a white bed

The image shows a sleep deprived woman lying in bed and holding her hands over her eyes

A chocolate Easter egg in pink tin foil next to image of blonde woman in purple star patterned pyjamas struggling to sleep in bed with white sheets

Woman lying down on the bed and smiling feeling comfortable

A woman with short brown hair sitting on bed with white sheets with a glass of green Spirulina smoothie in hand

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