A warming planet could mess with our sleep – and make us more vulnerable to infectious diseases

Key takeaways:Heat spoils sleep. Studies have shown that higher temperatures contribute to sleep disturbance, said Dr. Michael Irwin, who reviewed a wide body of research for the current paper.Poor sleep harms health.  Studies also show that a lack of  sleep can reduce our immune response and heighten our risk of infection.The big question:Considering these factors, is it possible the ongoing climate crisis may play a role in our susceptibility to COVID-19,  monkeypox and other infectious diseases? It ’s a scene that will be familiar for many after yet another scorching summer: You’re lying awake during a warm night, bedsheets kicked aside, an overmatched ceiling fan providing little respite as you struggle to get a good night’s sleep. But a warming planet doesn ’t just mean more people may find it harder to get quality sleep. There is also evidence suggesting that sleep disturbance could make it harder for the body to fend off infection, according to a new research paper from Dr. Michael Irwin, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavorial sciences at UCLA.   Irwin, who has extensively studied how sleep regulates the immune system, saidthat while there are few studies on howambient,or surrounding,air temperatureaffects sleep, theydo indicate that warmer temperatures contribute to sleep disturbance. Studies have also shown that poor sleep is associated witha heightened risk of infectious disease and could make some vaccinations less effective, Irwin writes i...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news