Quality Sleep can Help Boost Your Flu Shot’s Effects

Medical experts from various parts of the world are recommending people to get flu shots this year as a way to toughen up their immunity. The idea is that because COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms, being able to reduce your odds of contracting the flu might be quite helpful in detecting signs of coronavirus infection. So if you have access to it, you might want to consider getting the shot.

However, if you want to get more out of your flu shot, sleep specialist Matthew Walker says that having a good sleep hygiene will benefit you. He cited a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association that suggests the quality of sleep on the night prior to a vaccination is critical to the efficacy of the vaccine.

Why? According to studies, not getting enough sleep will cause an up to 50% of antibodies production reduction. With lower antibodies in your system, the vaccine will be rendered less effective if at all.

It’s also a fact that sleep boosts immunity, so by sleeping better, you can further beef up your immune system. Since the flu vaccine typically has live virus to elicit a reaction from the body to prepare it against future infections, having a strong immune system will really help you out.

Experts recommend getting at least 7 hours or more in order to get your body’s daily dose of zzz’s.

The Best Times to Drink Water to Get Great Zzz’s

“Drink lots of water.” This is possibly the top health tip that can apply to a large number of health concerns in existence today. Feeling tired? Drink water as it can help give you some energy and feel more awake. Got dry skin or hair? Drink lots of water as hydrating your body will also help hydrate such body parts. In pain? Drink lots of water as hydration can help the body reduce pain. It’s truly astounding how drinking water can help your health in various ways.

With these said, it shouldn’t be surprising that drinking water can also help your zzz’s. In fact, we’ve already written about this topic before. You can read how your sleep can benefit by keeping yourself hydrated HERE.

However, while we push for water drinking, we also understand that it can be a bit difficult to do. There are certain times of the day that you don’t want to feel the urge to urinate as the logistics can be tricky. It would also be a problem to load up in the evenings as it can disrupt your slumber. But then again, not drinking water before bed can make you dehydrated throughout the night which can also wake you up because you’re feeling parched or your legs have cramped.

This is why we want to discuss more about timing your drinks accordingly. By doing this, you can stay hydrated all throughout the day without having to affect your other activities negatively.

For sleep, here are the best times to hydrate:

1. Upon waking up.

It’s highly recommended to drink a glass of cold or room temperature water upon waking up. Doing so will benefit you in these ways:

• Wake you up and give you some energy to start the day.
• Jumpstart your metabolism.
• Replenish the fluids you expelled as sweat while you were asleep.

2. With your meals.

It’s important to drink water with your meal as it aids digestion. It can also help you feel fuller, allowing you to eat less if you’re trying to lose some weight.

Drinking lots of water with meals is also helpful for your zzz’s as it will also help ensure that you’re hydrating yourself at a regular interval.

It’s best to stick with just water when you’re trying to hydrate yourself but any other beverage can contribute to your daily needs. However, some may contain sugars which can cause thirst so they’re not necessarily great options if you want to quench your thirst. Others have empty calories, too, so if you’re trying to be healthy, they’re not necessarily the best options.

Drinking coffee with breakfast not recommended by experts, however. Since coffee is a diuretic, it can hinder the replenishment of loss fluids in your body in the morning. This doesn’t mean that you can’t or should not drink coffee at all, though, it’s just best to put it off to about 2 to 3 hours after you wake up so you can focus on rehydrating your body first.

3. All throughout the day.

Especially in a hot country like ours, replenishing our body with liquids is essential if you want to stay in top shape and perform well. This is why it’s crucial to drink continuously all throughout the day.

Remember: Don’t let yourself feel thirsty as it’s a sign that you’re already somewhat dehydrated. Experts say that it’s ideal to drink 2-3 cups of water per hour to avoid dehydration. Drinking more than the said amount is essential if you’re sweating a lot.

If you’re going to commute, however, and you’re worried about the traffic, you might be better off in holding off hydrating until you get to your destination. This way, you don’t have to worry about having the need to go to the bathroom while you’re traveling.

4. Before going to bed.

Experts recommend drinking a glass of water before hitting the sack as it will help keep you hydrated as you sleep but not too much that you’ll have to wake up because you have to pee. If you’re still worried because you often have to get out of bed in the middle of the night to urinate, it could be because you drink too much water before your bedtime, you have a sleep condition, or an overactive bladder. In such cases, seeing your doctor is necessary.

Scheduling your liquid intake can have a huge impact on the quality of your sleep so it’s best to pay closer attention to it. The benefits you’ll get afterwards are definitely worth the effort.