Insomnia negatively affects the effectiveness of vaccination
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Poor night sleep can adversely affect the effectiveness of vaccines, say researchers from the University of California in San Francisco (USA).
The work, first conducted outside the walls of the "sleep study laboratory," showed that the duration of sleep is directly related to the immune response to vaccines.
The experiment involved 125 people (70 women and 55 men) aged 40 to 60 years. All non-smokers, with good health, living in Pennsylvania (USA).
Each subject was given a standard vaccination against hepatitis B in three doses: the second vaccination was carried out one month after the first, and the third - six months after the second. The level of antibodies was measured before the second and third dose, and also half a year after the final vaccination. This allowed us to assess whether the vaccine had a "clinically protective effect". In addition, all participants conducted a "sleepy diary", which marked the time of going to bed and awakening, as well as the quality of sleep. 88 subjects also wore an actigraph - a device resembling a wristwatch, fixed on the wrist and accurately measuring the time of sleep and wakefulness.
It turned out that those who slept at night on average less than six hours less often raised the level of antibodies to the required parameters, and therefore they were 11.5 times less protected with hepatitis B vaccine compared to those who slept for seven or more hours. However, the quality of sleep did not affect the response after vaccination. Of the 125 participants, 18 did not receive adequate protection from the vaccine.
Thus, sleep plays an important role in regulating the immune system, and its lack can have a detrimental effect on vaccination, scientists concludes.
Recall that insomnia has a negative effect on the body, which is as follows:
- Violations of mental functioning. Insomnia affects concentration and memory. The prolonged absence of sleep interferes with daily tasks.
- Stress and depression. Insomnia increases the activity of hormones that cause stress. Thus, lack of direct influence on our mood and perception of the world around us.
- Heart diseases. Heart diseases are directly related to insomnia and impaired functioning of the nervous system. People suffering from chronic forms of insomnia have signs of increased activity of the nervous system and heart, which can expose them to the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Headache. Headaches that occur at night or early in the morning can be associated with a sleep disorder.
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