Healthy Sleep Linked to Lower Infection Risk

A restful night’s sleep may help shield you from severe infections, according to a study by Chinese researchers who analyzed data from nearly 400,000 individuals. The findings, published in Translational Psychiatry, highlight sleep’s role in bolstering health.

Over 13 years, scientists from Southern Medical University in China tracked participants from the UK Biobank, a vast British health database. The study included over 397,000 adults aged 40 to 73. Researchers examined not only illness records but also sleep patterns, including duration, consistency, insomnia, and daytime drowsiness.

The results were striking: those with healthy sleep habits faced a 12 percent lower risk of hospitalization due to infectious diseases. The risk of sepsis dropped by 9 percent, while liver infections saw a 20 percent reduction. The protective effect was particularly pronounced in people under 60.

The study pinpointed two key factors: getting a full seven to eight hours of sleep and waking early. These habits showed the strongest link to infection resistance.

While the research doesn’t establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it underscores sleep’s critical role in supporting the immune system. The researchers urge people to prioritize quality rest, especially in times of widespread illness.