Sleep and Swine Flu

People should take great care to get an adequate amount of quality sleep during times such as these when infection risk may run high.  There are many research studies showing that inadequate sleep dramatically impairs the immune system’s ability to mount a response to a virus.  So be sure that you and your children get the sleep they need.  Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep and children’s sleep needs vary by age (see http://www.nssleep.com/sleep-needs-in-children.html).  America is becoming a sleep-deprived nation both because many people intentionally curtail their sleep in order to get more done and because so many people with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome are not being properly diagnosed and treated. 

I am especially concerned about the growing body of research that shows how sleep deprived our young people are.  Many children are not getting the hours of sleep they need because their parents don’t realize that children need much more sleep than adults.  Many children are not getting quality sleep due to unrecognized sleep disorders.  Most of the adult sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and insomnia are quite common in childhood as well, but there is not the same awareness among pediatricians, parents or teachers.  Again, in order for your children to fight off  illnesses such as the swine flu and other viruses, it is important, not only that they get enough sleep, but that it be quality sleep that is not disrupted by snoring or apneas or leg movements. 

Of course, the main thing you can do to avoid infection is:  Wash your hands; wash them alot.  Carry hand sanitizer.  Wear gloves if possible.  Don’t touch your eyes or nose.  Don’t sneeze into your hand, rather sneeze into your elbow.