Why do you feel sicker at night!?

Have you ever wondered why you feel sicker at night and your symptoms become worse when you have a cold or flu?

Well, mystery was solved when Michael Smolensky, a biological rhythm researcher and adjunct professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Texas, discovered that our circadian rhythm, which helps manage our immune system, can exacerbate symptoms after sundown.

Our bodies are on a 24-hour clock called the Circadian Rhythm and hormone levels rise and fall according to this daily cycle.

Cortisol, a stress hormone that helps your body regulate blood sugar levels, reduce blood pressure, and manage stress, it also controls white blood cells and therefore immune activity. During the day, our cortisol levels are high, suppressing the immune activity and keeping symptoms and fevers in check. When cortisol levels naturally drop at night, with its lowest levels around midnight, an increase in the immune activity and activation of the white blood cells occur, which in their turn detect and attempt to fight the infection. Thus, symptoms such as fever, congestion, cough, sweating and shivers worsen during these late hours, when our immune system shifts into overdrive.

As this were not enough, position of your body and decrease in distractions during the night plays a significant role in the intensity of the symptoms you may experience. Lying down make your congestion, coughing and breathing worse as gravity is not there to help drain the mucous from your airways anymore. Distractions are at their pick during the day, leaving no time for you to think much about your symptoms. When you finally lie down and relax, your immune system kicks into gear and symptoms become worse.

There are plenty of natural ways to help you fight a cold and speed up recovery. Herbal remedies, homeopathy, vitamins, fluids and antioxidant rich foods are all easily available these days. Make sure you take lots of rest and sleep to help your body fight the infection.