Causes of early awakening

Sleep is regulated by circadian rhythms, light and dark signals that make the body sleepy at night and alert in the morning. Early awakening is a condition in which you wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. and are unable to fall back asleep. It is common in older people because aging affects circadian rhythms and reduces the need for sleep. Prolonged early awakening causes fatigue, lack of sleep, reduces the ability to concentrate during the day, and affects the quality of life and work.

Insomnia

The main cause of waking up early in the morning is insomnia, difficulty maintaining uninterrupted sleep throughout the night. These awakenings may occur several times during the night, but they tend to be more frequent in the second half of the night (after 2 hours) due to the reduced ability to sleep in the morning.

Insomnia can be treated with many different methods depending on the cause. Maintain sleep hygiene by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, limiting electronic devices in the evening, and preparing a cool, quiet, well-lit bedroom to help improve sleep quality.

Anxiety, depression

Psychological disorders are associated with waking up early in the morning, causing you to wake up several hours earlier than your intended waking time. Depression, anxiety disorders or prolonged stress cause an imbalance in neurotransmitters that regulate mood, brain areas related to awakening become more active and stimulated, leading to early awakening. Patients should see a doctor to determine the cause of depression, receive appropriate treatment, and avoid affecting sleep quality.

Sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea contributes to early morning awakenings. Sleepers typically go through several sleep stages throughout the night. In the second half of the night, REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep), that is, the dream state, prevails. Sleep apnea is more likely to occur during REM sleep. At this time, the muscles lining the respiratory tract are actively paralyzed, disrupting breathing. Sleep apnea attacks often cause the patient to wake up momentarily and are common in the early morning.

Biological rhythms and the aging process

Some people tend to wake up early in the morning due to their preferences and go to bed early from 9:00 p.m. This is a healthy circadian rhythm, as long as it is 7-8 hours per night, bringing many benefits to health and the brain. Waking up early is common in older people. Because as we age, the ability to maintain continuous, uninterrupted sleep gradually decreases. Sleep may become more fragmented and total sleep time reduced.