Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver: Beware of These Differences in Your Sleep Pattern

New Delhi: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by fatty deposits in the liver. This can be due to excessive intake of sugary, salty and processed foods rich in saturated trans fats. An extremely common condition today due to the high incidence of obesity, NAFLD is known to increase the risk of a number of health problems – diabetes, heart disease and metabolic disorders to name a few. However, it has now been discovered that NAFLD can adversely affect sleep patterns. Wondering how? Keep reading.

NAFLD and Sleep Disorders: The Link Explained

The liver is an essential organ that regulates hormones in our system – when hormones circulate through the body, they perform their functions and report to the liver where they are deactivated. This prevents hormonal balance from taking place. However, when a person develops NAFLD, the process of hormone deactivation is disrupted.

The sleep and wake cycle involves two hormones – cortisol and melatonin. Cortisol is a stress hormone released just before we wake up to help a person feel energized for the day, and melatonin is released once the lights are dimmed to help a person feel relaxed and sleepy. These two hormones are heavily influenced by the liver – and if a patient is struggling with NAFLD, trouble sleeping is likely.

How does NAFLD affect sleep?

For starters, it’s important to check whether a patient is prone to anxiety – if so, the levels of cortisol in the blood are already high, increasing the burden on the liver to deactivate the hormone. In this case, when the liver is stressed all the time, it will be overwhelmed by an excess of cortisol and melatonin, disrupting the sleep cycle.

As a result, bouts of fatigue are triggered during the day, followed by nighttime alertness. If a patient has trouble sleeping especially between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., this is a sign of an unhealthy liver. A study published in the National Library of Medicine analyzed sleep problems in cirrhosis patients. Experts conclusively noted that cirrhosis — a condition often caused by alcohol consumption, metabolic disorders, NAFLD, and hepatitis B and C — can cause sleep-wake disorders in patients.

In addition, some of the other sleep complications include:

1. Insomnia
2. Difficulty falling asleep
3. daytime sleepiness
4. Difficulty maintaining circadian rhythm

How To Treat NAFLD With Diet?

A healthy liver doesn’t require much, just a diet with a high intake of complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and a limited intake of simple carbohydrates, refined sugars and saturated fats. Some of the best foods for NAFLD patients include:

1. Green leafy vegetables
2. Fruit
3. Coffee
4. Green tea
5. lentils
6. Whole grain
7. legumes

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietitian before starting any fitness program or changing your diet.