9 Reasons You're Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night
byLindsay E. Mack
How many times have you fallen asleep without any problem, only to jolt awake at 3 in the morning? It’s one of the most annoying things in the world, especially if you’re trying to get a decent night’s sleep. But the reasons you’re waking up in the middle of the night may surprise you.
This disturbance in your sleep, referred to as sleep maintenance insomnia by the Mayo Clinic, can rob you of precious shut-eye and rest. It’s easy to get annoyed at being awake so late, start to stress out, and ruin any possibility of nodding off again. And it can be caused by anything from hormonal imbalances to distractions in your sleep environment. Even what you have to drink during the day can have a huge effect on your ability to sleep through the night (and this doesn’t just mean coffee).
So here are the things to look out for if you keep starting awake long before your alarm is set to go off. Even if your sleep hygiene is otherwise excellent, if you have chronic pain — or even a baby on the way — getting a full seven to eight hours of rest may continue to elude you. But if something on this list sounds familiar, you may be that much closer to getting the sleep you need.