Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
In India’s fast-paced cities, staying awake well past midnight has become the new normal. Office deadlines stretch into the night, global work schedules demand odd hours, and binge-watching a favourite web series often feels impossible to stop after just one episode. Add a packet of chips, sugary snacks, caffeine, or even a late-night drink, and what seems like an ordinary evening may actually be placing extra stress on your liver.
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According to Dr Shruthi H.S. Reddy, Consultant – HPB & Liver and Pancreatic Transplant Surgery and Robotic Surgery at Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, these modern lifestyle habits are quietly affecting liver health. While many people focus on diet and exercise, they often overlook one major factor—sleep. Experts say the relationship between sleep and liver health is closely connected, with poor sleep affecting liver function and liver problems, in turn, disturbing sleep quality.
YOUR BODY RUNS IN A CLOCK
The human body follows a natural 24-hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep, digestion, hormone production and metabolism. When people stay awake late regularly, this internal clock becomes disrupted.
This disruption can affect the body’s ability to process food efficiently and regulate blood sugar and fat metabolism. Over time, it may increase the risk of Metabolically Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease. Studies suggest that poor sleep quality plays a significant role in this condition.
Many people believe they can make up for lost sleep by sleeping the next morning. However, experts say daytime naps do not completely reverse the effects of repeated sleep deprivation. Weekend catch-up sleep may help partially reset the body’s clock, but it should not become a substitute for consistent, good-quality sleep.
Doctors recommend getting around seven to eight hours of quality sleep every night. Regular exercise and spending time in natural sunlight can also help restore the body’s internal rhythm.
LATE-NIGHT SNACKS CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE
Sleep is only part of the problem. What people eat during late-night hours also matters.
Stress, long work shifts and entertainment often encourage people to reach for calorie-rich snacks, fast food, sugary treats or caffeinated drinks. These foods are typically high in fat and sugar, making them harder to digest when the body is preparing for rest.
Poor sleep can also increase cravings for unhealthy foods, creating a cycle where lack of sleep leads to overeating, and unhealthy eating further affects sleep quality. Over time, this combination can contribute to fatty liver disease, which may progress to liver inflammation, scarring and even cirrhosis if left unmanaged.
ALCOHOL AND SLEEP DON’T MIX
Many people believe alcohol helps them sleep better. While it may make someone fall asleep faster, experts say it actually reduces sleep quality.
Alcohol interferes with deep sleep and REM sleep, the stages that are essential for physical recovery, memory and brain function. People often wake up more frequently during the second half of the night, leaving them feeling tired despite spending enough time in bed.
Regular alcohol intake also places extra pressure on the liver. Although the liver has an impressive ability to regenerate, repeated alcohol exposure can gradually damage liver cells. Experts also point out that there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to long-term health.
SMALL LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN PROTECT YOUR LIVER
Modern life may make late nights difficult to avoid, but small daily changes can go a long way in protecting liver health. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, limiting late-night eating, choosing healthier snacks, reducing alcohol intake and staying physically active can all support better liver function.
Your liver works around the clock to keep your body healthy. Giving it the rest and routine it needs today could help prevent serious health problems in the future.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
