6 reasons why you wake up in the middle of the night

Do you find yourself waking up numerous times throughout the night? Wouldn’t it be a dream to feel totally rested and wake up in daylight hours without any disturbances to your sleep?

Here, Ely Mattress look at the culprits for waking us in in the middle of the night. The good news is that, once identified, some sleep deprivation culprits can be reduced or eliminated so you can catch some much-needed zzz’s again in peace.

Some experts shed light on sleep disruptors:

• Blue light emitted from phones reduces melatonin

Although it is environmentally friendly, blue light can affect your sleep and potentially cause disease, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Furthermore, Live Science mentions that research has found that exposure to blue light suppresses the production of melatonin more than any other type of light. It is believed that the shorter wavelengths in blue light is what causes the body to produce less melatonin because the body is more sensitive to this type of light.

We recommend keeping phones and television time away from bedroom – try a digital detox or switch off at least 2 hours prior to sleeping.

• Nature’s call in the middle of the night

Nocturia, or nocturnal polyuria, is the medical term for excessive urination at night. Sleep Foundation have said, Nocturia is a common cause of sleep loss, especially among older adults.

Most people without nocturia can sleep for 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate. Some researchers believe that one event per night is not uncommon but two or more times per night, and you may need to see a physician or GP to get a diagnosis.

• Uncomfortable sleep environment

According to The National Sleep Foundation, there are some external factors, that will wake you up in the middle of the night. How comfortable your bedroom is, will play a role in waking up.

Some things they mention are, noise levels, temperature of the bedroom, light and sleeping surface.

Therefore a comfortable natural mattress is key to getting a good night’s sleep.

• REM offset arousal

Arousal typically represents a shift from deep sleep, which is commonly known as REM sleep, to light sleep, known as NREM sleep, or from sleep to wakefulness, says Very Well Health’s website.

“Everyone wakes up at night, usually 4-6 times and at the end of a sleep (REM) cycle,” explains Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg, a clinical psychology and fellow, American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It’s troublesome when someone can’t just turn over and go right back to sleep. Then it can become a more chronic problem called sleep maintenance insomnia and should be diagnosed by a professional.

• Trained to eat in the middle of the night

Web MD has written about a Night Eating Syndrome, which is “A condition that combines overeating at night with sleep problems. With NES, you eat a lot after dinner, have trouble sleeping, and eat when you wake up at night.”

• Sleep Apnea

The most common type of Sleep Apnea, according to the NHS, is Obstructive sleep apnea. The signs of this are:

• breathing stopping and starting in the night
• making gasping, snorting or choking noises in the night
• waking up a lot in the middle of the night
• loud snoring

If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night seek medical help

This blog is not written with the intent to provide medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address personal circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis or treatment and should not be counted on on to make verdicts about your health.

Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the internet. Always seek advice from a medical professional to diagnose your symptoms.

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