Lack of sleep ‘increases risk of colds’
New research has suggested that less than seven hours sleep a night could greatly increase the risk of catching a cold. *
A team from Carnegie Mellon University in the USA conducted a study of 153 healthy men and women, which found that people sleeping less than seven hours a night were three times more likely to develop a cold than those who had more than eight hours’ sleep.
It is believed that a lack of sleep could weaken the immune system and therefore interfere with the body’s ability to combat cold and flu viruses.
There has previously been little direct evidence that sleeping well can help to prevent a cold, but the study identified that the less an individual slept, the more likely they were to catch a cold.
Professor Ron Eccles, Director of the Common Cold Centre at the University of Cardiff, said that sleep and the immune system were closely linked. He said: "The immune system may control the sleep-wake pattern, and lack of sleep or sleep disturbance may depress the immune response to infection."
Insomnia affects one in 10 people. ** Persistent insomnia can affect personal lives and performance at work, delay recovery after illness and is a major cause of depression.
The common underlying causes of insomnia can be physical, physiological, psychological or psychiatric. There is evidence to suggest that some alternative therapies, such as homeopathy and acupuncture, can help people to manage the symptoms of chronic illnesses such as anxiety, arthritis and insomnia. ***/*****
More than 30 million people in Europe already benefit from homeopathic treatment, which is a gentle holistic system of healing concentrating on treating specific physical and emotional symptoms. ***
Westfield Health’s Advantage, Good4you and Chamber Primary Health cash plans offer homeopathy and acupuncture benefits. Policyholders can claim back the cost of acupuncture treatment, and homeopathic consultations and treatments, up to set limits.
For more information on the Advantage Plan visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/pdfs/advantage/AdvantageBenefitTable.pdf
For more information on the Good4you Plan visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/pdfs/good4you/G4YBenefitTable.pdf
For more information on the Chamber Plan visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/pdfs/chamber/new/ChamberBenefitTable.pdf
References
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7823599.stm
**http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/insomnia/Pages/insomniaoverview.aspx
***http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/about-homeopathy/
© Westfield Health Insurance 2012
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