scholarly journals Perceptions of the Importance of Sleep in Common Cold—Two Online Questionnaire-Based Surveys

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 596-605
Author(s):  
Gill Phillipson ◽  
Sue Aspley ◽  
Ingo Fietze

Abstract Sleep deprivation affects the immune system and can render subjects more susceptible to symptoms associated with the common cold. The aim of this research was to investigate cold sufferers’ and doctors’ perceptions of the role of sleep in recovery from cold/flu. An online survey of 4000 adults who had suffered from cold/flu in the previous 12 months was conducted in eight countries and an online survey of 150 doctors was conducted in Germany. Responses were collected to questions regarding aspects of life affected by, and concerns while suffering from, cold/flu symptoms including nighttime awakening and actions taken to aid recovery. Responses were also collected to questions regarding advice given to cold/flu patients and the importance of sleep. Ability to sleep well was widely reported as negatively impacted by cold/flu (mean 46.1% of respondents across eight countries), especially in Western Europe, and inability to sleep well was a frequently reported concern associated with suffering from cold/flu (21.8%). To sleep more than usual was a frequently reported action taken to feel better (40.5%). Ninety-four percent of respondents reported waking up at night because of symptoms, cough being the most frequently reported symptom to awaken respondents. There was evidence of a possible relationship between sleep quality and medication taken at night for symptom relief. Countries with the highest proportions of respondents who reported sleep to be the aspect of life most negatively affected by a cold (France, Germany and Italy) were also those with the lowest proportions of respondents who reported that taking medications at night was the most effective way of getting back to sleep after waking due to cold symptoms. The majority of doctors believed sleep helped cold/flu patients to recover faster and that a good night’s sleep was important. Sleep is widely considered to be important in promoting recovery from cold/flu. Hence, the relief of symptoms that disrupt sleep is also likely to be important for a faster recovery.

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
A. I. Ibraimov

<p class="1Body">Common cold (CC) is referred to the most widespread human illnesses and affects people all over the globe. Till now there is no standard theory explaining the development mechanism(s) of СС. The etiology of the CC is known - over 200 virus strains are implicated in the cause of the common cold; the rhinoviruses are the most common. As for pathogenesis, it is conventional, that cold plays the important role in development of СС. It is believed that cooling causes blood circulatory disturbance and permeability of vessels that consequently deteriorates the tissue nutrition and its resistance against infectious agents, and its resistibility in relation to infection. It is also known that the CC sickness rate is affected by the age (children get sick more often than adults) and gender (male individuals are more susceptible to CC than females, regardless of their age). Among the issues that have not received an answer is another question: why CC affects only upon humans and apes? It is hypothesized that the cause of these higher primates susceptibility to CC is the highest level of their body heat conductivity in the animal world. Just this circumstance contributes to the rapid and deep cooling of the bodies of people and apes when it is cold, with all the ensuing negative consequences for the organism.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S779-S779
Author(s):  
Alycia N Bisson ◽  
Margie E Lachman

Abstract Modifiable health behaviors, such as physical activity and sleep quality are important for cognition throughout life. A growing body of research also suggests that engaging in enough physical activity is important to sleeping well. One recent study found that sleep efficiency mediates the relationship between physical activity and cognition. It is still unknown whether other metrics of sleep quality are mediators. The present study tested mediation in the second wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Using the PROCESS macro for SPSS, we found that those who were more physically active fell asleep faster, and had better executive functioning. In addition, those who were more physically active reported waking up fewer times during the night, and had better executive functioning and self-rated memory. Discussion will focus on the moderating role of gender and distinctions between findings with different measures of sleep, physical activity, and cognition.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harri Hemilä

Although the role of vitamin C in common cold incidence had been studied extensively, the level of vitamin C intake has not been unequivocally shown to affect the incidence of colds. In the present study the six largest vitamin C supplementation (≥ 1 g/d) studies, including over 5000 episodes in all, have been analysed, and it is shown that common cold incidence is not reduced in the vitamin C-supplemented groups compared with the placebo groups (pooled rate ratio (RR) 0·99; 95% CI 0·93, 1·04). Consequently these six major studies give no evidence that high-dose vitamin C supplementation decreases common cold incidence in ordinary people. Nevertheless, the analysis was continued with the hypothesis that vitamin C intake may affect common cold susceptibility in specific groups of people. It was assumed that the potential effect of supplementation might be most conspicuous in subjects with low dietary vitamin C intake. The average vitamin C intake has been rather low in the UK and plasma vitamin C concentrations are in general lower in males than in females. In four studies with British females vitamin C supplementation had no marked effect on common cold incidence (pooled RR 0·95; 95% CI 0·86, 1·04). However, in four studies with British male schoolchildren and students a statistically highly significant reduction in common cold incidence was found in groups supplemented with vitamin C (pooled RR 0·70; 95% CI 0·60, 0·81). Thus, these studies with British males indicate that vitamin C intake has physiological effects on susceptibility to common cold infections, although the effect seems quantitatively meaningful only in limited groups of people and is not very large.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17

Abstract Coronavirus is a family of positive single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family of coronaviridae. Coronavirus-19 infection (COVID-19) has appeared in 2019 and so there is no effective treatment that can eradicate it. The objective of this review is to present data on cellular and molecular characteristic of virus infection and also elucidate all molecular associated events with covid-19 infection in patients. The infection in humans can cause diseases ranging from a common cold to more serious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease that it transmits (Covid-19) cannot be cured with conventional treatments. However, a large number of protocols have been implemented based on the sequels that it produces. In this review we summarize 1) the role of immune system against this pathogen as well as the biochemical mechanism by which squealed is responsible for disease progression 2) the possibility or not that patients who have suffered the disease have antibodies against the virus and 3) the clinical protocols used in order to mitigate induced-damage by virus.


BioMedica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2S) ◽  
pp. 281-287
Author(s):  
Hina Ahmed ◽  
Aziza Ahmed ◽  
Muhammad Ahmed Saeed

<p><strong>Background and Objective:</strong> At the outset of outbreak of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection in Pakistan, there had been a lot of confusion regarding the preventive measures in general public. The objective of current study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the home preventive measures against COVID-19 infection amongst smart phone users at the outset of outbreak in Pakistan. <strong>Methods:</strong> It was a cross-sectional online survey to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice amongst the smart phone users regarding the preventive measures against Corona infection. Total 388 questionnaires were submitted in one week in first week of April 2020. The data was collected through online questionnaire which were disseminated through WhatsApp groups. The completed questionnaires were compiled and analysed by using SPSS software version 21. Frequencies of responses were calculated. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 196 (50.5%) participant were in the age category of 17&ndash;25 years with female predominance. Three hundred and 66 (94.3%) preferred washing hands with soap and water for 20 or more seconds, two thirds of the participants also agreed on the role of sanitizers. Only 159 (41%) knew what social distancing meant. Regarding the disinfection of eatable and non-eatable, almost half of the participants agreed to use soap and water. Considering the most effective disinfectant, 225 (43.8%) preferred Dettol. Surgical mask and N-95 masks were considered the effective ways to avoid droplet infections. Regarding the survival of the virus in different media, majority of the responses were completely ignorant. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>There are still gaps in knowledge, attitude and practices regarding prevention against Coronavirus infection at the outset of this out-break in Pakistan.</p>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liese Exelmans ◽  
Holly Scott

This study expands knowledge on the effects of technology use on sleep by (1) focusing onsocial media use in an adult sample, (2) investigating the difference between overall andnighttime-specific social media use with regards to sleep, and (3) exploring a vulnerabilityperspective. For the latter, the moderating roles of gender, age, and habitual social mediachecking behavior were examined. A representative quota sample of 584 adults (18-96 yearsold) participated in an online survey. Results indicated that 2 out of 3 adults used socialmedia, and that use both shortly before and in bed was prevalent. Only nighttime use wasassociated with poorer sleep quality. Age and habitual checking behavior moderated thisassociation, identifying younger adults and those with strong checking habits as possiblevulnerable groups for poor sleep. The findings are interpreted in light of existing research onmedia habits and problematic (social) media use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 760-765
Author(s):  
Anamika Chauhan

This review aimed to focus on using foods to boost immunity against COVID-19 in all age groups. In human, coronavirus causes the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and a major threat to public health. The novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization due to its rapid infectivity. COVID-19 infection is most probably reported in people with low immunity response. The nutrients, which show beneficial effects on the immune system, are called immune nutrients and diet is called immune diet. A healthy diet can reduce the risk of infection of COVID-19 and can prevent disease. Nutritional food intake is also necessary for people with chronic illness, obese persons, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction like anxiety and depression. All nutrients are essential for maintaining immunity and providing appropriate amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals for the surveillance mode of keeping us from getting sick. The use of plenty of water, minerals such as micronutrients, zinc, copper, selenium, iron, magnesium, food rich in vitamins, and a good lifestyle can promote health and overwhelm this coronavirus infection.


1963 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1171-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis B. Lefkowitz ◽  
George Gee Jackson ◽  
Harry F. Dowling

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A53-A54
Author(s):  
Muskan Bansal ◽  
Sarah Ghose ◽  
Natalie Dautovich

Abstract Introduction Stress is a known contributor to immune system suppression associated with higher illness susceptibility, including acute infectious respiratory illness, or the common cold. Sleep quality, shown to impact immunity, is an additional mechanism that may underlie the association between stress and cold symptomatology. Although the associations between stress and sleep and cold symptomatology have been examined separately, little is known about the mechanistic role of sleep in these associations. The present study examined sleep quality as a potential pathway between stress and cold symptomatology difference scores. Methods Archival data from the Common Cold Project (Pittsburgh Cold Study 3) were utilized for the present study. Participants were 213 adults (Mean Age=30.1 yrs., SD=10.9 yrs., 42.3% female) who completed a 5-day viral challenge and self-report measures of cold severity (Jackson Symptom Score; measured from beginning to end of viral challenge), baseline sleep quality (PSQI), and perceived stress as part of study participation. SPSS v 27 and Hayes’ PROCESS mediation macro were used to assess study aims. Age and sex were included as covariates. Results Greater perceived stress was significantly associated with worse sleep quality [B=.15, 95% CI .10, .21]. Sleep quality fully mediated the association between stress and changes in symptomatology; better sleep was associated with larger changes in cold severity [B=-.23, 95% CI -.43, -.04], defined as differences in symptomatology from beginning to end of the viral challenge, beyond stress alone. Zero-order correlation analyses revealed a trend level (r=.04, p=.06) association between sleep quality and aggregate cold severity, suggesting that as sleep improves, symptoms decrease. Conclusion Within the present sample, sleep quality surfaced as an indirect pathway linking stress to changes in cold severity. Better sleep was associated with greater changes in cold severity above perceived stress. These findings, together with the trend level, positive association between sleep quality and cold symptomatology, suggest that better sleep may be associated with less severe symptomatology. Future research should attend to mechanisms underlying the associations between stress, sleep, and cold symptomatology. Support (if any):


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