If you find yourself more prone to colds during the school year than the average bear, your crappy college-life sleeping habits might be partly to blame.
I'm fortunate enough to only catch a cold about once a year--usually around the end of fall semester, when projects and finals are all piling on top of each other, as is the case with most people I'm sure. Well, according to recent study, all those late nights out, or, um, studying, hinder our immune systems' abilities to fight off colds and other illnesses.
Like the NYT reported, scientists followed the sleeping habits of about 150 men and women for two weeks, then isolated them and exposed them to cold viruses. "Those who slept an average of fewer than seven hours a night," the article said, "were three times as likely to get sick as those who averaged at least eight hours."
Other than the occasional weekend (during which time most college students probably participate in other activities that hinder their immune systems), I can barely remember the last time I slept more than seven hours, and I don't know many people who can. As if cramped dorms, crowded bars and shared beer bong cups didn't make college students susceptible enough, the sleep we give up to participate in the latter activities is working against us too.
I guess I should amend the title of this post, then. We're not likely to go to bed any sooner--we're much too busy for that. Go ahead and take that Airborne, then go take a nap.
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