Why do we often advise others not to stay up late? Because staying up late can damage our health. The adrenal cortex hormones and growth hormones in the human body are only secreted during sleep at night: the former is secreted before dawn and has the function of promoting metabolism and muscle development; the latter is produced after falling asleep, which not only promotes the growth and development of adolescents, but also delays aging in middle-aged and elderly people. Therefore, the best time to sleep during the day is from 10 pm to 6 am the next morning.
Most people often stay up late due to busy work and social activities. However, staying up late not only brings you some benefits, but also puts your health at risk.
1. Risk of heart disease
Research reports show that people with irregular sleep patterns do not adapt to physical adjustments as easily as ordinary people think. Not only will their temper worsen, but they will also have a higher risk of heart disease. Because the human biological clock is not affected by light or clocks, especially organs like the heart do not adjust to staying up late just because they rest during the day. Therefore, long-term sleep deprivation increases the risk of heart disease.
2. Gastrointestinal crisis
People who work overtime and stay up late often feel tired. Eating "midnight snacks" is a major source of energy for those who stay up late. However, "midnight snacks" may have potential harm to the stomach, which is also a cause for concern, because regularly eating midnight snacks is prone to stomach cancer.
3. Causes obesity
Eating after 8 pm is considered a "midnight snack". The human body has two autonomic nerves, the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve. The sympathetic nerve is active during the day and keeps the stomach active, promoting digestion and absorption. At night, the parasympathetic nerve is active, storing the nutrients absorbed by the body while resting. If you eat at night, not only will it be difficult to fall asleep, but it will also cause loss of appetite the next day, leading to imbalanced nutrition and obesity.
4. Stimulants are more harmful
When it comes to working overtime and staying up late, people usually think of drinking a cup of coffee or strong tea to stay awake. Caffeine does make people feel energized, but caffeine may not necessarily improve work efficiency, and even if it does, it can only maintain short-term effects. Moreover, the parasympathetic nerve in the human body is active at night, slowing down heart rate and gastrointestinal peristalsis. Drinking coffee and tea both stimulate the sympathetic nerve, easily causing autonomic nervous system disorders in the internal organs.
5. Decreased immune function
Staying up late often leads to fatigue and lethargy, which weakens the body's immune system. Cold, gastrointestinal infections, allergies, and other symptoms of autonomic nervous system disorders may suddenly appear. The direct symptoms of staying up late include dizziness, inability to concentrate, and even migraines.
Therefore, when staying up late cannot be avoided, we must be prepared and take measures to minimize the damage to our health.
Firstly, you should eat on time. Ensure that your dinner is nutritious but not too heavy. During the process of staying up late, pay attention to keeping warm and eating hot food. Stay hydrated, wolfberry jujube tea or chrysanthemum tea can not only hydrate but also have the effect of relieving internal heat. Some nourishing drugs, such as Liuwei Dihuang Wan, also have good conditioning effects. If you stay up all night, make sure to have a hearty breakfast the next day and avoid eating cold food.
Secondly, it is important to replenish sleep after staying up late. It is best to take a nap or sleep for a while if possible.
In addition, playing badminton or going outdoors for a walk can help improve physical health and mental well-being, which is a good way to overcome the lethargy after staying up late.
