5 REASONS YOU KEEP WAKING UP AT NIGHT

5 REASONS YOU KEEP WAKING UP AT NIGHT

By prevention.com - Kate Bayless

It's 2 a.m. and you're wide awake. Again. What's the deal?

First of all, understand that waking up in the middle of the night is completely normal and part of our human DNA, says Jose Colon, MD, founder of Paradise Sleep and author of The Sleep Diet.

"Nobody sleeps through the night," Colon says. In fact, he says even 4 to 6 nocturnal awakenings are considered normal. "This goes back to our caveman days where one would wake up, scan the environment, make sure there are no tigers, and then go back to sleep," he says.

That last part is key: You should be able to go back to sleep. If you can't, one of these 5 sleep stealers may be standing between you and a good night's rest:

Sleep Stealer: You Need to Pee

Nocturia (nighttime urination) has many triggers. But if you find yourself waking up 2 to 4 times a night to pee—even when you limit your evening drinking—you might want to try sipping more water before bed. Just add a pinch of salt, says Jonathan Steele, RN, executive director of WaterCures.org. Our bodies try to maintain an internal balance of water and electrolytes, Steele says. Too much water without enough salt, and your body may try to jettison some H20, which may explain why you're waking up in the middle of the night to pee.

Sleep Solution: About 30 minutes before going to sleep, drink a small glass of water with a pinch of unprocessed sea salt, Steele suggests. "Unprocessed salt helps the water to get into all of our cells," he says. You need to take the salt with H20 to ensure your body retains both, he adds.

Sleep Stealer: You're Overheating

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), feeling hot can make it hard to stay (and fall) asleep. "The temperature of the room, what you wear or don't wear to bed, the sheets and blankets—all figure in to keeping your body at the right temperature," says Marc Leavey, MD, a primary care specialist with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.

Sleep Solution: People can sleep comfortably at a range of temperatures. But a room temp between 60 and 65°F is ideal for most, the NSF reports. Also, try a bath before bed, Leavey suggests. "Taking a warm bath raises your temperature in the tub slightly, while exiting the tub triggers a slight drop in temperature—a signal that your brain associates with sleep," he explains.

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