Do you keep waking up at 2 am? Sleep expert reveals one common habit that's jeopardizing your sleep

Forget someone waking you up mid-sleep–no one likes the feeling of broken sleep. It could be a haunting nightmare, distressing flashbacks, bodily discomfort, sudden midnight cravings, or hydration calls that wake a person. But mind you, here’s more to it. A sleep expert has shed light on why people may be waking up in the middle of the night, according to the Daily Mail. 

As someone reluctantly opens their eyes after an unsettling sleep, their mind becomes aware of their surroundings while still feeling drowsy. At the same time, their body remains heavy as hazy disorientation takes over due to temporarily blurred vision. In those restless moments, consciousness kicks in, causing the mind to hop on a roller coaster ride of unrelated thoughts. During these intense times, Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, explains how the human body may experience some rapid changes.

The expert emphasized how an underlying issue may cause someone to wake up around 2 to 3 AM. Seeley shared that a person's dietary choices and stress levels can disturb their peaceful resting time. "Your brain processes emotions while you sleep, so if you're carrying any stress, even subconsciously, your body might jolt you awake as it tries to deal with it," the expert said, according to the outlet. Contrary to what many claim about their conscious lifestyle choices, Seeley explained that triggers, like refined carb meals before bedtime, may often force someone to wake up in the middle of the night.

Seeley backed his claims with a scientific explanation of how the human body reacts to carb-rich meals late in the evening. He suggested the food one may be consuming would be behind the sudden rise and drop in blood sugar levels. According to the sleep expert, refined carbs and sugary foods before bed would lead to a massive spike in blood sugar levels, which would eventually settle back to their original state in the middle of the night, waking a person up. He further recommended people not consume sugary snacks just before bedtime and instead explore better, healthy alternatives.

Rather than indulging in tasty processed options easily available in the market, people should eat foods rich in protein and healthy fats. The expert elaborated that people can opt for something as simple as a handful of nuts among other tempting options. "These can help keep your blood sugar stable through the night," he said. Additionally, he listed coffee and alcohol as factors that can lead to broken sleep during crucial recovery hours. "Alcohol can also be a sneaky culprit, as while a glass of wine might help you doze off, it disrupts your sleep cycle and often leads to waking up in the middle of the night."

Seeley suggested that even caffeine-sensitive individuals can feel the effects of having coffee late in the evening, eventually affecting their sleep quality. Those who struggle with falling asleep can turn to some mind-relaxing activities before getting into bed, added the sleep expert. It could be anything like “reading a book,” “stretching” or “practicing deep breathing exercises.” He advised people to avoid smartphones once they wake up, as it may do more harm than good. He advocated maintaining discipline while practicing a similar sleep schedule every night, which would regulate one’s internal clock.