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I have read that inflammatory chemicals are released in the body at around 4 am. Here is a quote from Google:
"according to research, a significant portion of cytokine release, particularly pro-inflammatory cytokines, tends to peak during the early morning hours, often around 4am, as the body transitions from sleep to wakefulness, aligning with the circadian rhythm and immune system activity during this time.
Key points about cytokine release and the circadian rhythm:
Peak activity during sleep:
While the body releases cytokines throughout the sleep cycle, the highest levels are often observed during the later stages of sleep and the early morning hours.
Morning stiffness:
This phenomenon is partly attributed to the increased release of inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-6 during the early morning, which can contribute to joint stiffness in individuals with conditions like arthritis.
Importance of sleep quality:
Adequate sleep is crucial for proper immune function, as disruptions in sleep patterns can affect the normal circadian rhythm of cytokine release. "
I am an early riser, so I take the prednisone really early, around 4 am. So far I haven't had any problems with it not lasting a full 24 hours.
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"I am an early riser, so I take the prednisone really early, around 4 am. So far I haven't had any problems with it not lasting a full 24 hours."
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You're lucky in that regard. Actemra might also be playing a role because Prednisone typically does not last a full 24 hours. It mostly depends on the dose and amount of inflammation that is present. PMR inflammation is said to be "chronic" so it is there all the time.
I'm "light sensitive" so I wake up early or whenever there is any hint of daylight. From what I read, light is the primary determiner of our circadian rhythms.
I'm not disagreeing with the statement about "inflammatory chemicals being released in the body at around 4 am." However, I don't think "released" is the right word and expecially not released at a certain time of day. I know this is repeated frequently but I'm not sure how accurate it is.
My understanding is that cytokines are "triggered and released" primarily by infections and other things at the cellular level. Then cytokines need to be "regulated" primarily by the production and release of cortisol which happens in the adrenals glands. It is all interconnected and the entire process happens throughout the day. How cytokines are regulated is what causes the disruption in how our immune system responds to triggers.
It is extremely complicated so simple explanations to describe what happens are impossible. If anything good happened during COVID it was the research done on cytokine release syndrome.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22700-cytokine-release-syndrome
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No wonder there was a surge of cases of PMR post COVID.
I once had a major malfunction post infection and wound up being admitted to intensive care. Multiple doctors basically said they never saw anything like what happened to me. What caused it to happen was unknown but the best explanation I heard was a "cascade of blood related events."