In mine and other peoples experience , symptoms of an illness seem to be worse at night...?

Question

Is this coincidence or a medical fact, is there any explanation to this.

Answer 1

This is because the body has what is called a circadian rhythm. Even without a clock evolution has programmed our bodies to run on approximately a 24 hour cycle +/- 4 hours. A circadian rhythm that synchronises with day-night cycle is called a diurnal rhythm.

Temperature, blood pressure, hormone release,brain activity all follow a pattern during the course of the cycle.

Generally the body activity peaks between about 10 am to 4pm, arousal level and steroid levels are highest. It tails down and is at it's lowest ebb between 3 and 4 am. At this time all the body defences are at their lowest ebb and protective steroids are at minimum as we rest, regenerate and recover ready for the next day.

Unfortunately this leaves us at our most vulnerable and least able to deal with all forms of attack. It is why when we did our own out of hours patient cover, that was the time we were called out to deal with emergencies.(When we as doctors had worked all day and were least able to cope with things too!)

It is when the highest percentages of deaths, heart attacks, asthma attacks and children spiking high fevers occur.

Answer 2

As a mum of two, I firmly believe that illnesses gain in strength at night, after watching my sick child's fever rise as the clock ticked on. Why this is so I don't know, but I know it isn't just because you haven't got anything to distract you, because to a six week old baby, day and night are pretty much the same, yet night time was always the danger time, so I am convinced it isn't all in the mind, as some would have you believe.

Answer 3

I heard it has something to do with a chemical your body releases in the evening when your body is physically preparing for rest that leaves it vulnerable and therefore any symptoms are amplified at this part of the day. So colds coughs and everything else is worse at night.

Answer 4

I believe that illness seems worse at night because we do not have distractions to keep us from thinking about our aches, pains, etc. I am stating this from my own experience and what I have read.
While awake, you have television, books, other people to converse with, jobs to go to, etc. This creates a distraction from your awareness of your pain or illness.

Hope this makes sense to you. I know of no medical statement regarding this, just experience.

Answer 5

A lot of times things like coughing, or pain seem worse at night because you don't have anything to distract you from the symptoms.

Answer 6

Yes, my family was just discussing that. Sometimes symptoms ARE worse when you lie flat- like sinus symptoms. At other times, I think it really is because you are just lying there with nothing else to think about except how much you are suffering. During the day, you have lots of other stuff to occupy your mind.

Answer 7

It's very common! It's because at night, your mind isn't occupied with a bunch of different tasks, etc., so you're free to realize how much pain you're in. The other explanation is that you need a new mattress!

Answer 8

Because sleep is when the body restores/repairs itself. Take your meds before bedtime to alleviate the symptoms.

Answer 9

if you run a pc or an engine for hours faults start to appear and a rest is in order.Its the same with our bodies the failing bits tire more easily

Answer 10

Your body battery is low on an evening so you feel symptoms more easily