How to sleep: Doctor warns 3 habits lead to night-time wake-ups 'around 3am' ()
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52791321%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DGxYkXfK927n" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>Thousands of Britons struggle to achieve the critical eight hours of sleep needed for proper brain function, but many experience a peculiar pattern of waking up around 3am.</p><p>According to sleep expert and CEO Martin Seeley, these early-morning awakenings aren't random occurrences.</p><h3></h3><br/><p><br/></p><p>There are often underlying physiological causes at play, with blood sugar imbalances and elevated cortisol levels being among the most common culprits.</p><p>"During the night, your body uses stored energy to keep everything running smoothly while you sleep," Martin explained.<br/></p><h3></h3><br><div class="embed-latest"></div><h3></h3><br><img alt="person struggling to sleep" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0f120c63f99e3d5f9c5145031c4a285a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="84be1" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/person-struggling-to-sleep.jpg?id=54977442&width=980"/><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p>"Your body’s sleep is divided into cycles, each lasting about 90 minutes," Martin explained.</p><p>"Over the course of a night, you typically go through four to five of these cycles. </p><p>"Waking up at the end of one isn’t unusual, and for many people, this happens to coincide with the early hours of the morning - often around 3am."</p><p>Those most at risk of sleep disruptions include people who skip dinner or eat too little before bed, the expert cautioned.</p><h3></h3><br><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><h3></h3><br><p>Individuals with reactive hypoglycaemia, who experience sugar crashes hours after eating, are also vulnerable.</p><p>“If your blood sugar levels drop too low - perhaps because of what or when you ate during the day - your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to stabilise them," added Martin.</p><p>This process, known as nocturnal hypoglycaemia, can jolt the body awake, sometimes accompanied by night sweats, heart palpitations and anxiety-like sensations.</p><p>Dr Kaylor explained that this hormonal surge is the body's protective mechanism. Eating the right types of food before bedtime, however, could prevent it.</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/how-to-sleep-better-phones-blue-light" target="_self">Struggling to get to sleep? What you must stop doing an hour before bed to sleep better</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/how-to-sleep-cure-insomnia-tips" target="_self">Older adults are suffering a 'sleep decline' - 5 ways to drift off again if you wake up at night</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/how-to-sleep-better-tips-bedtime-routine-pyjamas" target="_self">How to sleep better: What you wear to bed can 'seriously hinder your chances of a deep slumber'</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Peanut butter" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a019ac9e7538a6c6503e1b705c5528d6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="83875" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/peanut-butter.jpg?id=58091885&width=980"/><p>To prevent this, Martin recommended a strategic approach to bedtime nutrition consisting of protein and carbohydrates.</p><p>"A light snack that combines protein and complex carbohydrates -like a small piece of whole-grain toast with peanut butter - can help keep your blood sugar stable through the night," he shared.</p><p>These symptoms often improve after eating a small snack, which helps restore blood sugar levels.</p><p>It's worth noting that between 4am and 8am, there's a natural increase in blood sugar levels due to hormonal changes.</p></br></br></br></br>
