Feeling worse in the mornings & evenings when sick

[b_d_41501]

Why do you feel worse in the mornings & evenings when you are sick? I never understood this.

[b_d_41501]

Anyone got any ideas?

[James]

Good question, maybe something to do with metabolism being highest during the day?

[b_d_41501]

Interesting theory. Makes some sense I guess.

[MrMistery]

From what i know fever is the result of a hiperactivity of the immune system. So maybe white blood cells are secreted in the evening... Just a guess

[b_d_41501]

Makes sense as well.

[Zachthemac]

Your body's temperature fluctuates over the course of the day, so if your temperature is highest in the morning and evening, that could explain why you feel worse at those times.
I don't know if that's true, just my theory.

[Winter]

Well... the suggestion i have right now isn't the most scientific, actually more psychological, but... maybe you feel worse in the morning because, when you wake up the first thing that hits you is the realization that you feel bad. What I mean is that throughout the day, you don't actually feel better, it's just you don't notice the effects of the illness, because you're busy and occupied doing things. For instance, I once had a really awful cold. In the morning all I felt were aches etc, etc, etc, but I went to school anyway, because I didn't want to miss a test. While I was at school, i was really busy with all my work that i ended up ignoring all the pain. And the same applies to how we feel worse in the evening. In the evening we're all tired and worn out from the day and therefore we feel the effects of our illness even more. We're not as pre-occupied with work, so that leaves our minds free to focus on how lousy our illness is making us feel.

[MrMistery]

Your body's temperature fluctuates over the course of the day

That is not true, we are not amphibians or reptiles. The only variation in temperature we experience is fever. Fever is the effect. What we are trying to determine is the cause

@KaylethGrey
What you are saying is true. However, not absolutely true. It is true that while you are occupied with something you ignore your medical condition, but if you stay in bed all day you will also feel better in the middle of the day. Therefore that is not the decisive factor
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[b_d_41501]

I'm leaning towards the metabolic theory at the moment on this one.

[MrMistery]

I am skeptical about it. I can not find the link between how intense your methabolism is and how bad or good you feel

[biostudent84]

Why do you feel worse in the mornings & evenings when you are sick? I never understood this.

SAD (Seasonally Affected Depression) may also play a role here. The less sunlight you get, the more depressed you are. In the mornings and evenings, there is less sunlight...