Can Lack of Sleep Cause You to Feel Cold Questions and Answers

Sleep deprivation may disrupt the body’s ability to regulate body temperature. When you are lacking sleep, do you ever notice how hard it is to feel warm the next day? A study done several years ago found that not getting enough sleep may make you feel cold all over and have other related effects. We all know that it’s important to get plenty of sleep, especially if you’re concerned about your body’s ability to regulate it’s temperature and prevent illnesses and injuries.

A lack of sleep or sleep deprivation doesn’t cause fever, but it can make you more susceptible to the flu and other illnesses. This is because sleep deprivation compromises your immune system. Research has indicated that a lack of sleep causes stress hormones to inhibit T cells in the body. These cells are immune cells that help your body fight against other cells infected by a virus, such as flu, HIV, herpes, or cancer cells. Also, during sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, and some of these cytokines need to increase when you get sick. A lack of sleep can affect the production of these cytokines, therefore affecting the immune system.

Sleep loss influences how your body fights illness. In fact, your body fights infection with fevers. When you sleep, your body gets a better fever response, so fevers tend to rise at night, but when you’re not sleeping, your fever reaction is not primed.

The bottom line is that if you’re lacking in sleep, your body won’t be as effective in preventing or fighting off illnesses like the flu, so you might get ill more easily and stay ill longer.

If you or a loved one isn’t sleeping well, you can contact us at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders! Using simple screening tools, we will review your health history as well as sleep history to determine if you are a candidate for a sleep study. A sleep study will reveal if you are suffering from sleep apnea and if you are, how severe your condition. Once diagnosed, the proper treatment can be recommended. If you’ve already been diagnosed, and find it difficult or even impossible to wear a CPAP, we provide an alternative. For example, there are many cases of sleep apnea that can be treated with oral appliance therapy, a method that uses a simple oral appliance worn while you sleep to prevent the causes of sleep apnea in the first place. Connect with our clinic today to learn more!

We very likely do! Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders treats sleep problems and has locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX, and Wausau WI. Please see our Locations page for the clinic location in your area, then contact us at that location to learn more or book a consultation.

We’d be happy to hear from you for any reason, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you could use some help with your sleep. We look forward to hearing from you!