The Impact of Sleep Quality on Immune Function, Hematological Parameters, and Thyroid Hormone Levels The Impact of Sleep Quality on Immune Function
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Abstract
Immune and endocrine system regulation, as well as physiological homeostasis, are all significantly impacted by sleep quality. Numerous biological changes, such as differences in thyroid hormone levels and hematological indices, have been associated with sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality. This study aims to investigate the relationship between university students' sleep quality and specific hematological markers and thyroid hormones. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 students (male and female) with a mean age of approximately 23 ± 2 years from the Technical Institute-Baqubah. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected from each participant under aseptic conditions. Then, hematological parameters including WBC, RBC, Hb, PCV, and PT were analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer. Serum samples were separated and used to measure thyroid hormones (T3, T4, and TSH). The results demonstrated that poor sleep quality was related to a significant increase in WBC count, indicating a potential inflammatory response. In contrast, hemoglobin levels and packed cell volume were significantly lower among participants with poor sleep quality. Additionally, elevated levels of T4 and TSH were observed in individuals with inadequate sleep duration. The study found that insufficient sleep is associated with major changes in thyroid function and blood components, such as decreased hemoglobin and increased white blood cell counts. High levels of the hormones T4 and TSH were also observed, which could point to a thyroid-stimulating axis issue. The results show that sleep deprivation has localized rather than systemic effects.
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