Why You Wake Up in the Middle of the Night?

After a tiring day at work, a good night's sleep is all your body wants to restore its energy. However, you often fail to get the rest you need, leaving you groggy, irritable, and unfocused the next day. You fall asleep fine, but then suddenly you wake up in the middle of the night. What's going on inside your body? Let's find out! 

Top Reasons You Wake Up in the Middle of the Night 

Do you know 30% of adults in the UK have poorer quality sleep, and almost one-quarter of people are meeting friends less often? Well, if you are also among them, here are some reasons that might be causing this: 

Sleep Apnea 

Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops abruptly during sleep, so your body doesn't get enough oxygen. There are two major types of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA): 

• Obstructive: In this, the upper airways get obstructed or blocked during sleep. The reasons behind include obesity, especially if you have excessive fat deposition in your tongue, pharyngeal walls, and neck. 
• Central: When it comes to central sleep apnea, your brain fails to send proper signals to the body to continue breathing. It's associated with conditions like heart failure, stroke, and chronic opioid use. 

OSA is estimated by the British Lung Foundation to affect over 1.5 million people in the UK, and 45% of those with OSA have moderate to severe symptoms. 

How to Manage Sleep Apnea? 

To avoid waking up in the middle of the night, you should use a CPAP machine that keeps the airway open. You should also try to lose some weight to reduce constriction and alleviate the symptoms. 

Restless Leg Syndrome 

Another reason for frequent nighttime wakeups can be restless legs syndrome. It's a neurological condition in which you get the urge to move your legs while resting or sleeping. 

However, what may first appear as a harmless movement can prevent a peaceful sleep onset. Some other symptoms of RLS include mood changes, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. 

How to Manage Restless Leg Syndrome? 

Managing restless legs syndrome is pretty easy with iron supplements taken by mouth or IV. In addition, you can take a hot bath to release tension or use FDA-approved pads that apply vibration to the legs to soothe the twitching. 

Medications 

You might wake up in the middle of the night more frequently if you are taking some medications to treat other health conditions. For instance, Beta Blockers are used for hypertension, but they also suppress melatonin production in the body, preventing you from falling asleep. 

On top of this, diuretics are also helpful for lowering blood pressure. However, they reduce the amount of water in your body, so you wake up multiple times to urinate. After that, falling back asleep feels like a struggle, which also disrupts your next-day activities. 

How to Manage Medications Waking? 

Talk with your doctor and try adjusting the timing of your medications. Doses that cause alertness should be taken in the morning, and diuretics should be taken at least 6 hours before bedtime to avoid multiple trips to the bathroom. However, if it doesn't stop, you should consult a doctor to get alternative medications. 

Stress and Anxiety 

Stress and anxiety don't only make your daytime worse, but also mess up your sleeping routine. You lie down, but your mind keeps racing, keeping you alert. Studies show that nighttime anxiety can disrupt sleep, lead to feelings of worry, and make nights feel longer and more torturous. 

How to Manage Stress and Anxiety? 

To manage your stress and anxiety, you should write down all your thoughts and to-do lists before bed to clear your mind. You should also tense and relax your muscles to release tension throughout your body. Moreover, you should schedule a specific time to address all your problems so they don't creep up at night. 

Conclusion 

If you frequently wake up in the middle of the night, you shouldn't take it lightly. Instead, consult a doctor and address all the deficiencies through reliable supplements. Need guidance? Get in touch with HealthEssent today and explore our range of incredible, non-GMO products right away!