“Nighttime secret” predicts COVID-19 (and its complications)?

I know, I know…

COVID-19 is so, what, FOUR years ago?!

While many folks have this mentality, just remember many others still very much care about COVID-19.

After all, it’s a virus that will be with us forever—and we’re still looking at patterns of what to expect and how to prevent some of the longer-term side effects.

Could this “nighttime” secret be the biggest clue yet?

Connections to COVID

According to a study in healthcare workers, insomnia, disrupted sleep, and daily burnout are linked to an increased risk of infection, disease severity, and lengthened recovery time.

More specifically, for every one-hour increase in shuteye, there was a 12 percent lower risk of “catching” COVID-19.

Respondents provided personal details on lifestyle, health, and use of prescription medications and/or dietary supplements.

They also relayed information about sleep habits, including number of hours they slept each night and for daytime naps, as well as any sleep problems. Finally, they reported on feelings of burnout at work and workplace exposure to COVID-19.

Here’s how infection severity was described:

• Very mild—no, or hardly any, symptoms
• Mild—fever with or without cough, no treatment required
• Moderate—fever, respiratory symptoms, and/or pneumonia
• Severe—breathing difficulties and low oxygen saturation
• Critical—symptoms resulting in hospitalization or intensive care (mechanical assistance)

Ultimately, compared to those without sleep problems, those who had trouble catching quality shuteye had a whopping 88 percent higher risk of getting COVID-19.

Plus, those who felt burnt out were more than TWICE as likely to become infected. This same group was about three times as likely to have severe symptoms and a longer recovery period.

Better sleep, better mood, better health

In this study, the average amount of nightly sleep was somewhere less than seven hours, but more than six.

And, ironically, an extra hour of sleep achieved by a daytime nap was still associated with a six percent higher risk of COVID-19.

What does this tell us? Well, it feels like common sense to me…

Disrupted/insufficient sleep—and feelings of burnout—have always been linked to a heightened risk of both viral and bacterial infections.

That said, this bears repeating—as Americans tend to wear stress and work hours as a badge of honor, especially those in the medical industry…

Sleep—and mental health—are crucial to good health.

After all, it’s highly likely that a lack of sleep damages the immune system by increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Not only that, but other studies have linked burnout to diabetes, heart disease, musculoskeletal disease, and death from all causes.

I always advise getting seven to nine hours of quality shuteye each night. Not only will this help keep you strong physically, but it’ll help improve your mental health, to boot.

For a sensible, drug-free plan to improve your sleeping habits for good, check out my Perfect Sleep Protocol.

Source:

“Insomnia, disrupted sleep, and burnout linked to higher odds of severe COVID-19.” BMJ, 03/22/2021. (bmj.com/company/newsroom/insomnia-disrupted-sleep-and-burnout-linked-to-higher-odds-of-severe-covid-19/)