Meaning, when you’re trying to wind down at night, your body will be gearing up to either run from danger or fight it—not exactly a peaceful, dream-like state, no? And poor sleep impacts more than just your mood the next morning. 

Research published in the Physiological Reviews journal states that “sleep and immunity are bidirectionally linked.” As integrative family physician Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., once explained to mbg, sleep helps manage the production of the stress hormone cortisol, and it allows the immune system to rest, repair, and produce helper T-cells to participate in the immune response. 

The impact that suboptimal mental well-being can have on sleep, and therefore immune function, is just one way stress can impact your health. (To understand more about the link between stress and immune well-being, read our full guide here.) In the meantime, here’s how you can promote mental wellness, and in turn, support your immune system.



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