Sleep disorders According to the CDC14, the most common sleep disorders are insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea. All of these disorders can cause waking up in the middle of the night, but it is one of the characteristics of insomnia, in particular.
Reasons this might happen include drinking caffeine or alcohol late in the day, a poor sleep environment, a sleep disorder, or another health condition. When you can't get back to sleep quickly, you won't get enough quality sleep to keep you refreshed and healthy.
Some general health conditions that might be affecting your ability to stay asleep include: Stress and anxiety. Depression. Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea.
Waking up almost exactly every two hours is a surprisingly common experience and can be caused by a variety of factors. The first, and most obvious, is that it could be due to a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, which could be causing your body to wake up as it attempts to regulate itself.
Sleep deprivation often occurs with sleeping disorders. If you cannot sleep for more than four to five hours per night (or less), you may have sleep deprivation. In addition, regular sleep interruptions from things like night terrors or "sleep starts" can also lead to sleep deprivation.
As we've mentioned, there can be numerous causes of interrupted sleep – from a sudden shift in routine, life events, unexpected noises, bedroom conditions, alcohol, caffeine, medications, or digital devices, as well as anxiety and depression, sleep apnea, insomnia.
Napping too much.
Long naps in the afternoon or later make it harder to stay asleep at night. Consuming too much caffeine.Caffeine (in coffee, tea, and sodas) blocks a brain chemical called adenosine that helps you sleep. Go light on caffeine-containing foods and drinks beyond the early afternoon.
Paradoxically, experts say to get out of bed. Yes, even at 3 a.m. “Abandon the idea of getting back to sleep,” Troxel said. “When you do that, when you let the pressure go that sleep isn't so effortful, sleep is more likely to come back.”
Go to sleep at the same time each night, and get up at the same time each morning, even on the weekends. Don't take naps after 3 p.m, and don't nap longer than 20 minutes. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol late in the day. Avoid nicotine completely.
Insomnia following surgery can be caused by pain, inflammation, and medication side effects. The noise and bright lights of an in-patient hospital setting can also make sleep challenging for those who require overnight hospital stays.
Short sleeper syndrome is a condition that allows you to operate on less than six hours of sleep. It affects about 1% of the population, including celebrities like Barack Obama and Martha Stewart. People who are short sleepers also exhibit signs of hypomania, impulsivity, and a high reward drive.
Natural short sleepers do not need treatment, because they do not suffer negative consequences from sleeping less than six hours per night. People who sleep less than six hours per night and have interrupted sleep or daytime sleepiness should talk with a doctor about whether they are a true short sleeper.
Some individuals find magnesium supplements to promote sleep, and a few studies have demonstrated a sleep benefit. Consult with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.
Avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and big meals in the evening, especially in the hours before bed. Reducing your use of electronic devices before bed and trying to never use them when in bed. Getting outside or opening your blinds to get daily exposure to sunlight. Finding time to be physically active every day.
If you have depression , daily stresses—such as financial worries, an argument with your spouse, or a jam-packed evening commute—could also lead to more nighttime wake-ups and more trouble getting back to sleep than someone without depression would experience.
The bare minimum of sleep needed to live, not just thrive, is 4 hours per 24-hour period. Seven to 9 hours of sleep are needed for health, renewal, learning, and memory. Disruption of the sleep cycle from shift work creates problems for the quality and quantity of sleep.
The results suggested that (1) people taking melatonin may sleep about 24 minutes longer during the daytime, but (2) other aspects of sleep, such as time needed to fall asleep, may not change. The evidence, however, was considered to be of low quality.
Many factors can cause a person to wake up often at night. Needing to urinate is a common reason, but sleep apnea, overheating, and dietary habits are just a few of the others. However, regularly waking up in the middle of the night can become problematic, as it interrupts sleep.
Middle insomnia describes a difficulty maintaining sleep after initial sleep onset. For these individuals, sleep is fragmented with frequent awakenings at night. Middle insomnia is commonly associated with neurological syndromes (e.g., RLS), pain syndromes, or depression.