Staying up late is a harmful habit that quickly “destroys” the liver, especially in colder seasons when the immune system weakens. However, there are many other liver-damaging behaviors that people unknowingly engage in during the cold season.
The human immune system operates more effectively at warmer temperatures. Therefore, during winter, as the weather gets colder, the immune system also weakens, making the organs in the body more susceptible to deterioration and illness, including the liver.
Meanwhile, many people are inadvertently or even carelessly engaging in numerous “liver-destroying” behaviors. Among these, staying up late—one of the well-known bad habits harmful to the liver—ranks last in the list of four habits that “destroy” the liver during the cold season:
1. Drinking excessive alcohol to keep warm and nourish the body in cold weather
Drinking large amounts of alcohol is a well-known cause of many liver diseases. Particularly, many individuals have a habit of consuming alcohol in the cold season as a way to warm their bodies. It is not uncommon for people to enjoy herbal alcohol and drink it as a tonic to boost their immunity during the winter months to ward off illness.
However, the warming effect of alcohol is merely a fleeting sensation; it can even make one feel colder afterward. This is because it dilates peripheral blood vessels, increases blood flow to the skin and muscles, and stimulates nerves, temporarily making one forget about the cold. Nevertheless, the tendency to drink more alcohol in winter is very harmful to health, especially the liver.
When consuming alcohol, ethanol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach and intestinal mucosa. Only 10% of the alcohol is excreted through sweat, breath, and urine; the remaining 90% goes directly to the liver, causing severe liver toxicity. Herbal alcohol and infusions of plants and animals further overload the liver due to metabolism, leading to rapid deterioration and disease if consumed excessively. Without control, this can develop into alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, and eventually lead to liver cancer over time.
2. Taking medications indiscriminately due to increased susceptibility to minor illnesses in cold weather
As mentioned, cold weather with lower temperatures weakens the immune system, making us more prone to illness, especially seasonal diseases related to bacteria and viruses. Extremely cold temperatures can also cause other disorders, including headaches, joint pain, mood swings, and poor appetite.
At this time, many people will indiscriminately take medications. Specifically, just feeling slightly unwell or uncomfortable prompts them to use medication. They often do not consult with a pharmacist or doctor but take medications based on habit or impulse. Others might overdose or mix various medications in hopes of recovering faster. Some people abuse dietary supplements and tonics to feel healthier. All these actions are “destroying” the liver.
The liver is the body’s detoxification organ and participates in the metabolism of most medications, which are then excreted through bile or urine. Overusing medications forces the liver to work excessively, weakening it. Once the liver is weakened, its metabolic, detoxification, and excretion functions are also compromised. The accumulation of unprocessed and detoxified medications over time can cause drug toxicity and liver damage, leading to severe health issues.
3. Drinking less water and being less active due to the cold
It is undeniable that most of us tend to drink less water and be less active in cold weather. These bad habits also cause the liver to suffer, weaken, and become more susceptible to disease.
Most of us tend to drink less water and be less active in cold weather. (Illustrative image).
Water plays a crucial role in removing waste from the body, preventing the accumulation of toxins, and protecting the liver from damage. Regular water intake helps thin the blood, allowing the liver to filter and eliminate toxins more easily. Meanwhile, low temperatures make blood thicker and more difficult to circulate. Therefore, if one does not drink enough water in winter, the liver will find it challenging to function effectively, potentially leading to dysfunction and weakening.
Additionally, cold weather reduces activity levels, leading to decreased metabolism, impaired blood sugar control, blood pressure regulation, and fat digestion, which can harm the liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may arise from reduced or insufficient physical activity.
4. Frequently staying up late due to “short days and long nights”
In colder seasons, the nights are longer than the days, leading many people to stay up later. Many enjoy the feeling of being wrapped in warm blankets, immersing themselves in their own world with books or gadgets amidst the chilly winter. However, regardless of the season, staying up late is harmful to health, especially to the liver. Moreover, staying up late in winter is even more detrimental due to the already weakened immune system; the liver is more susceptible to damage and needs more sleep to recover.
According to health experts, both the endocrine and exocrine functions of the liver perform best when the body is in a deep sleep state. The liver’s most crucial working hours are from 11 PM to 3 AM. Therefore, staying up late and sleeping after 11 PM disrupts the biological clock, leads to dysfunction, and increases the burden on the liver due to heightened oxidative stress producing many harmful intermediates, activating toxic Kupffer cells.
The period from 11 PM to 3 AM should be spent sleeping deeply to keep the liver healthy, whether in cold or hot weather. (Illustrative image).
Furthermore, the liver regulates blood function. If the body rests in a quiet state, when the blood demand of the organs decreases, that blood volume returns to the liver. When activity, study, and work increase, the blood demand rises, causing more blood to circulate from the liver to meet the body’s needs.
These prolonged habits lead to a decline in liver function, gradual weakening, and increased susceptibility to diseases such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, and more.
