Signs You're Sleep Deprived

When the body is fighting off a cold or the flu, the substances the body uses to fight infection may also cause fatigue. This is why being sick often means sleeping more than usual. Sleeping more makes it easier for the body to fight off infection. If the body is sleep-deprived, it may be harder to fight off a virus after being exposed — which is why it may seem like you catch every bug that’s going around. The body’s immune system also releases proteins (cytokines) that promote sleep when it’s stressed or sick. Sleep deprivation may decrease the production of these proteins.