Why Do We Always Feel Sicker at Night? The Science Behind Midnight Misery
Why Do We Always Feel Sicker at Night? The Science Behind Midnight Misery
We’ve all been there. Whether sickness is more frequent at night or not…. the fact is when you or a loved one falls ill after dark, it can feel like a crisis. Your options are limited: should you make a mad dash to the nearest 24-hour pharmacy and take a gamble on self-medicating? Or perhaps grab a taxi, or drive half-asleep to the emergency room? Either way, it's an ordeal—one that usually involves waking up the rest of the household, getting someone to watch the kids, or figuring out how to juggle your work commitments the next morning while running on zero sleep.
Wouldn’t it be so much easier if a doctor was just a call or a click away, ready to show up at your doorstep? That's where we come in. Our 24/7 service means you can skip the late-night pharmacy run, the frantic search for a babysitter, and the exhaustion. We’ll bring the healthcare straight to you—no disruptions required!
Now, let’s get down to the big question: is it true that people fall sick more at night? While it might not be that sickness itself is more frequent after dark, there’s plenty of scientific evidence that shows why symptoms often feel worse at night.
What Happens to Your Body at Night?
Your Immune System’s Night Shift:
During sleep, your immune system is hard at work releasing cytokines, which are proteins that help fight off infection and inflammation. However, if your sleep is disrupted or if you’re not getting enough shut-eye, cytokine production drops, leaving you more vulnerable to illness. This is especially the case at night when these protective processes are most active(Frontiers)(Sleep Foundation).Why Nighttime Feels Worse:
Ever notice that your cough, fever, or congestion seems to crank up at night? That’s no coincidence. Cortisol, the hormone that helps control inflammation, is naturally lower at night. When that happens, symptoms like coughing or fever can feel much more intense(
Sleep Foundation)(Home).Your Body’s Circadian Rhythms:
Your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, also plays a role in how you experience sickness. Studies have shown that your immune system’s ability to fight infections can vary depending on the time of day, which means you may feel stronger symptoms at night as your body ramps down for rest(Mayo Clinic).
In short, it’s not that you’re more likely to get sick at night, but your body’s immune responses and hormone levels can make you feel a lot worse when the sun goes down.
So, the next time illness strikes after hours, remember—there’s no need to run the late-night gauntlet. With just a phone call or click, we’ll have a doctor on the way, and you can keep your night as peaceful as possible. Stay in bed, and let us bring the healthcare to you!
