(Update) Why Does Lack Of Sleep Increase Risk Of Cold

Washington (dbTechno) - A new study has revealed that those who do not get enough sleep at night are more likely to develop the common cold.  The big question many have coming out of this though, is why?

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have found that the risk of common cold increases for those who get less than seven hours of sleep each night.

The study was carried out on a total of 153 healthy men and women with an average age of 37.

They each were checked up on and interviewed in regards to their sleep habits before he study began.

They then infected them with the cold virus, and quarantined them in a hotel for a period of five days.

They monitored the volunteers to see if any developed signs of the illness.

What they found was that those who slept less than seven hours each night were far more likely to develop a cold compared to those who slept eight hours or more each night.

The reason for this is believed to be the fact that when you do not sleep enough, your immune system can be impaired.

This can cause it to be weakened and limit the ability of the body to actually fight viruses such as the cold and flu.

The study has been published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.