Infections often feel worse at night primarily because your body's natural cortisol levels are lower, leading to a stronger immune response and increased inflammation.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Cortisol's Role: During the day, your body produces more cortisol, a hormone that acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and suppresses the immune system. This helps regulate inflammation and manage pain.
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Lower Cortisol at Night: At night, cortisol levels naturally decrease. This allows your immune system to ramp up its activity.
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Immune System Activation: With less cortisol suppressing it, your immune system more readily detects and fights infections. This increased immune response leads to more inflammation and, consequently, more noticeable symptoms like fever, congestion, chills, and pain.
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Perception of Pain: Without the moderating effect of cortisol, the pain signals from the infection become more pronounced. Also, being less distracted by daytime activities can make you more aware of discomfort.
In summary, while the infection itself doesn't necessarily worsen at night, the interplay between your immune system's increased activity and lower cortisol levels contributes to the heightened perception of pain and discomfort. This can make infections feel significantly more intense during nighttime hours.
