01/6What happens in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease refers to the presence of fatty cells inside the liver. This can become troublesome when the presence of these fatty cells limits the proper functioning of the liver, causing build-up of toxic waste in the body.
You may not be able to identify the condition in the initial stages, however, this alarming sign during sleep could indicate your liver is at risk.
02/6Sleep disturbances and liver scarring
According to the journal of Nature and Science of Sleep, sleep disturbances are a well-known characteristic of liver scarring.
Dr. Brian Lun, Integrative and Functional Medicine Specialist and Chiropractor, Kansas City, suggests that “the most common cause of waking up between 1 and 4am is a liver problem,” as quoted by Express UK.
03/6How is sleep and liver connected?
Our body’s circadian rhythm is our master internal clock, which works in accordance with the external clock – sunrise and sunset – to ensure all our organs and internal biological systems work harmoniously, effectively and efficiently.
“It is during the period between 1 and 3 am that the liver works its hardest to cleanse and detoxify our body while we sleep,” Dr. Lun explains, adding, “So if your liver is slow and stagnant from an accumulation of fat during the liver cleansing time (1 and 4 am), the body will try to allocate more energy for detoxification and trigger your nervous system to wake up.”
04/6Types of sleep disturbances
Sleep disturbances affect about 60 to 80 percent of patients with chronic liver disease, according to the Journal of Thoracic Disease. This can happen in the forms of insomnia, reduced sleep efficiency, daytime sleepiness, and restless leg syndrome.
05/6Causes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
The condition is usually linked to the following risk factors:
-Being overweight or obese
-Having prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
-Having high levels of fats, particularly triglycerides, in the blood
06/6Other causes for early morning awakenings
Elderly adults may also experience early-morning awakenings due to changes in their body’s circadian rhythm with age. According to the Sleep Foundation, in this population, there is a tendency to wake up three to four times every night. Nocturia, anxiety and other conditions could also lead to age-related sleep changes.
Researchers have also found that inconsistent bedtimes are linked to poor overall lifestyle behaviors, such as eating a low quality diet and excessive alcohol consumption.
Read more: Pneumonia in kids: How to spot a lower respiratory tract infection
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