Insomnia: Occasionally waking up at midnight is very common. You might be thirsty or need to go to the bathroom. Frequently, it could also be the result of a horrible dream or an improper sleeping position. However, you should be concerned if it occurs every day. Health experts say there are a number of factors that can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night, especially between 1-3 a.m, and be unable to go back to sleep. According to Healthline, some of them may be brought on by stress, liver issues, or disrupted sleep cycles.
However, frequent 3 a.m. awakenings could be the result of insomnia, which has a number of long-term negative effects on the body and can lead to a number of disorders and diseases, some of which are even life-threatening.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, 10–20% of people worldwide suffer with insomnia, and in the past two years, the rate has grown to 40% among older adults.
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What sleep cycle is and what is its significance?
Our bodies go through a number of sleep cycles in a single night, according to specialists. Even though it is ideal to wake up numerous times throughout these cycle times, you typically go back asleep.
During the 7 to 9 hours of sleep that people generally require, these cycles take place. The phases of a sleep cycle are as follows:
a) Extended sleep
b) REM Sleep
c) A gradual transition from awake to asleep
d) Light sleep
According to doctors, each stage differs depending on how you spend your day; for instance, if you engage in a lot of physical activity during the day, you are likely to have longer deep sleep cycles early in the night and longer REM cycles as dawn draws near.
Reason of waking up in midnight hours
According to the Mayo Clinic, several factors that cause the troublesome and potentially harmful insomnia include:
Stress
Your body would activate your sympathetic nervous system if you had been under continual and chronic stress, which would wake you up in the middle of the night and surprise you. According to doctors, it might potentially change your blood pressure and speed up your heartbeat.
If your stress and anxiety levels rise, they will continue to bother you and affect how other essential organs function.
Ageing
Your sleep is greatly influenced by your age. According to medical professionals, medication-related changes to your sleep cycle as you age are likely to have significant consequences. Not only does the quantity of your sleep decline, but your wake-up and sleep schedules change as well, causing you to get up repeatedly.
Excessive medication
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What actually causes you to wake up between 1-3 am?
According to our Eastern Medicine Body Clock, this specific time of 1-3 am corresponds with the liver organ system, says Rhoadstohealth.com. According to medical professionals, the organ systems are represented by 2-hour blocks on our body clock.
When an organ isn’t working properly, it interferes with the regular flow of blood, generating disturbances that lead to the symptoms that may appear at that specific time.
According to medical professionals, the liver is one organ that is most negatively impacted by stress, which is why we experience stress, frustration, and worry as well as insomnia.
Tips to overcome insomnia
You can try the following advice at home:
To unwind before bed, soak your feet in warm water.
An hour before going to sleep, spend some time reading and meditating.
Turn off all electronic devices, such as computers and mobile phones, as they increase mental stress.
Maintain a comfortable temperature in the space so that you can sleep soundly.
Obtain adequate pillow adjustment
Perform some mild stretching before going to bed.
Eat at least three to four hours before going to bed.
Disclaimer: This material, including advice, provides general information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Take the methods, and claims mentioned in this article as suggestions only; DNP India does not confirm or refute them. Consult a doctor before implementing any such suggestions/ treatment/medicine/diet.
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