How Proper Sleep Lowers Infection

Volunteers who tried this experiment noticed their immune system becomes hyperactive and white blood cell counts soar - the same type of response you typically see when you're sick or stressed.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Research shows sleep enhances the efficiency of T cell responses, allowing your immune system to kill foreign invaders such as viruses with greater ease

• Ga(s)-coupled receptor agonists such as adrenaline and prostaglandin — which decrease during sleep — prevent immune cells from activating a sticky protein called integrin that allows the…