DECEMBER 2022 - 1
Feature: Boost Your Immune System
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As we enter cold and flu season, strengthening our immune systems becomes the focus of much of our health routines. The first step is always talking with your doctor to be sure you’re creating a lifestyle and routine that works for you and your health. We each have different concerns and issues, so be sure to create a plan unique to your needs. With that in mind, there is a great deal we can do to build immune-strengthening lifestyles. The first step in keeping our immune systems strong and bodies healthy is getting good sleep. According to The Mayo Clinic, “… lack of sleep can affect your immune system. Studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.” In fact, studies over the last 25 years show “… research following a systems approach of neuroimmunology has accumulated surprisingly strong evidence that sleep enhances immune defense, in agreement with the popular wisdom that ‘sleep helps healing’” (Besedovsky, Lange & Born, 2012). When we sleep, we de-stress. Our levels of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine decrease, which means we calm down and recover from the stresses of our day. Without enough quality sleep, our immune systems are negatively affected. Enough sleep differs among age groups and people. The Sleep Foundation suggests adults sleep 7-9 hours each night, and people 65+ should sleep 7-8 hours each night.
continued on page 6 ASK THE EXPERT: UNDERSTANDING A MS DIAGNOSIS FEATURE: BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM + RECIPES PT: COUNTERING BALANCE ISSUES FAITH: A GOOD LAUGH - IT’S BIBLICAL!