Weak Liver: Reason Behind Sleep Disturbance

Getting enough sleep is essential for us to keep our bodies functioning well. Still, many people have experienced different types of sleep disturbance, such as difficulty falling asleep, disrupted sleep, waking up too early, excessive sleepiness, or unusual sleep cycle. Having trouble with getting a night of proper sleep can give pressure on our health or even badly influence our daily and social life in the long run. Anxiety, stress, sickness, and many factors can contribute to poor sleep. It may not be a big deal if it is just a couple of days of a bad night's sleep. But we should talk to healthcare professionals if the situation persists, as sleep disturbance is one of the signs of poor liver function.

Our liver is responsible for hundreds of functions, including balancing hormones by breaking down and eliminating hormones. Melatonin, a hormone that makes us sleepy, needs to be metabolized and broken down by the liver and then excreted through the urine. Usually, our brain will produce melatonin when it gets dark. At night, when the melatonin concentration is higher, we begin to feel relaxed and sleepy. However, things are a bit different when liver health is compromised. Chronic liver problems may lower the efficiency of the liver in breaking down hormones, which may mess up our biological clock and cause fatigue during day time. When the liver finally clears melatonin, we are awake at night.

Liver damage not only affects our sleep quality but also hinders our health. Protecting our liver health is a big part of promoting our overall wellness. Even paying more attention to the small details in our lives, such as our sleeping cycles and quality, helps us promotes liver health.