A single night without sleep could have serious consequences for your immune system, a new study has revealed, Daily Mail reported.
Scientists in Kuwait found that even short-term sleep deprivation increases inflammation, potentially weakening the body’s natural defences against illness and infection.
While long-term sleep loss is known to raise the risk of obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, this study suggests the impact of just one night’s poor sleep is more immediate than previously thought.
The research, conducted at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, examined how sleep loss affects monocytes — white blood cells that play a key role in immune function. Normally, sleep promotes a reduction in blood pressure and vascular relaxation, essential for overall health. However, blood tests showed that this natural process was disrupted when participants went without sleep.
Dr Fatema Al-Rashed, who led the study, described the findings as a stark warning.
“The increasing prevalence of sleep disruption, driven by technology use, long working hours, and changing lifestyles, has significant health implications,” she said. “Our study highlights the importance of prioritising sleep for immune health.”
The study involved five participants with a healthy body mass index (BMI), who were monitored over a 24-hour period. They were completely deprived of sleep, and their blood samples were analysed before and after the experiment.
Results showed that one night of sleep deprivation altered their monocyte profiles, increasing the presence of non-classical monocytes — immune cells that detect and respond to inflammation. While inflammation is a natural defence mechanism, excessive or prolonged inflammation can damage healthy tissues and impair immune function.
Writing in The Journal of Immunology, the researchers stressed the need for further studies into how sleep quality affects immune responses, particularly in relation to obesity and chronic disease.
To explore this further, the researchers conducted a second trial involving 237 healthy adults with varying body weights. Participants tracked their sleep, diet, and physical activity over a week while wearing accelerometers to measure movement. Blood tests revealed that those who were overweight or obese had lower sleep quality and significantly higher levels of inflammatory markers.
Of the 38 inflammatory markers analysed, 13 were significantly altered in participants with obesity compared to those with a healthy weight.
The researchers hope that future studies will investigate the mechanisms behind these immune changes and explore whether improving sleep quality could help reduce the risk of inflammatory conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The findings come amid growing concerns about the UK’s sleep health. A 2023 poll by The Sleep Charity found that one in six Britons suffers from insomnia, yet 65 per cent never seek medical help.
Poor sleep has been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer, stroke, and infertility. However, experts caution that waking up during the night does not necessarily mean a person has insomnia. Common triggers for sleep disturbances include stress, caffeine, alcohol, shift work, and jet lag.
For those struggling with poor sleep, experts recommend maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, staying active during the day, and creating a quiet, screen-free sleeping environment.