Have you ever felt sleepy when you were sick? This condition can make you sleep more often throughout the day. Especially if it is accompanied by feelings of sluggishness and malaise that often strikes when you are sick.
So, why is the body easy to sleep when sick?
Table of Content
1. Causes of easy sleepiness when sick
2. Benefits of sleeping when sick
Causes of easy sleepiness when sick
Here are a number of conditions that can cause you to become easily sleepy when sick.
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The body needs a lot of energy to fight disease
When you are sick, your body needs a lot of energy to fight disease, causing you to feel tired and lack energy. So, you become more easily sleepy when sick in order to get energy back.
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Give your body time to recover
Drowsiness is a signal for the body to rest and recover. While sleeping, there are certain processes that can increase your body’s ability to fight disease.
So, if you fall asleep easily when you’re sick, it could be your body’s way of recuperating. Most of the healing and recovery process also occurs in the deep sleep phase, also known as slow-wave sleep.
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Release of certain compounds from the body
According to a study from eLife, easy sleepiness when sick can be triggered by the chemical compound FLP-13 released by the body. These compounds decrease the activity of nervous system cells that function to keep you awake.
When you are sick, your body releases FLP-13 compounds. This chemical works with a protein receptor called DMSR-1 to induce sleep. Therefore, the body becomes more easily sleepy when sick.
However, further research is still needed on the effect of releasing FLP-13 compounds on the body.
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Effects of drugs consumed
The drugs we take when we are sick can sometimes cause unbearable drowsiness as a side effect. One example is antihistamines.
As a result, you can also feel sleepy when you are sick after taking the drug.
You don’t have to worry if you feel sleepy when you’re sick. Rest as much as your body needs to speed up recovery.
However, make sure to keep eating and drinking regularly. Meanwhile, if your condition does not improve or worsens, immediately consult a doctor.
Benefits of sleeping when sick
Adequate and quality sleep can have a positive effect on a sick body. Moreover, it is easy to fall asleep when sick is a sign that the body needs rest in order to recover quickly. Some of the benefits of sleeping when sick include:
- Increases energy to fight microbes that cause illness because only a small amount of energy is expended for activities.
- Helps maintain the balance of the immune system in fighting disease.
- Increase levels of the antioxidant alpha lipoic acid (ALA) which can speed up the body’s recovery.
- Increases immune response to disease because cytokine proteins play an important role in the immune system produced and released during sleep.
For this reason, it is recommended that you get enough sleep when you are sick. On the other hand, lack of sleep can actually make you more susceptible to illness or even make it worse.
To help you sleep soundly when you’re sick, try taking a warm bath before bed to relax your body and make sure your bed is comfortable and clean.
In addition, keep the room temperature cool with dim lighting so that you can sleep more easily. This can help you get quality sleep so you can quickly recover from illness.