Health World

Benefits of Rest for Immunity

Rest is considered an effective tool for strengthening the immune system. According to doctors, deep rest lowers cortisol levels in the body, which otherwise suppress the activity of genes essential for the maturation of immune cells.

The body produces cortisol in response to any stress. During times of danger, this hormone temporarily suppresses all non-essential functions to direct energy toward the muscles and the brain, specifically preventing the activation of genes required for the maturation of immune cells in the lymph nodes. When stress becomes chronic, cortisol levels remain persistently high in the blood, making individuals more susceptible to viruses, slowing wound healing, and delaying recovery from illnesses.

In states of inactivity and deep rest, cortisol production drops to normal levels. The activated immune system responds with a reverse cascade, reactivating genes that were previously suppressed, and lymphocytes begin producing antibodies at full capacity. Furthermore, the reduction of this hormone enables immune cells to recognize viruses and bacteria more effectively and to begin combating them more rapidly. For this reason, individuals prone to rest and inactivity fall ill less frequently and recover more easily and quickly.