NHS doctor explains three key triggers that mean you keep waking up at 3am

If you frequently find yourself waking up in the early hours of the morning, there could be a number of reasons behind it.

Often, waking up just a handful of times in the middle of the night can lead to a pattern, which can be frustrating if you struggle to get back to sleep and end up spending hours staring into the darkness.

Now, one NHS doctor has spoken about the kinds of things that could be leading to 3am wake-ups, and how we can minimise them to save our slumber.

Dr Amir Khan has spoken on social media about what's really going on when you wake up in the middle of the night, explaining that there are three biological reasons why it happens.

"Have you ever noticed that you fall asleep just fine, and then suddenly you're awake at 3am staring at the ceiling, overthinking you're entire life?" Asked Dr Khan.

"Well, there's actually a biological reason for that. Between 2-4am, your body is in a very particular phase of its sleep cycle.

"Cortisol, your natural stress hormone, starts to rise in preparation for waking up.

"It's completely normal, but if you're already stressed, anxious, or running on empty, that small, hormonal shift can be enough to tip you into wakefulness."

Dr Khan also explained that blood sugar can play a huge part, too.

"At the same time, your brain is more vulnerable during the night, especially in the early hours, blood sugar levels can dip slightly," he added.

"If they drop too low, which is more likely if you've had alcohol, eaten very late or are under chronic stress, your body releases adrenaline to compensate.

"That little surge can wake you up suddenly with a racing heart or a sense of alertness."

Another factor is how the brain responds to fear, with Dr Khan explaining that this is hugely different in the middle of the night.

"Add in the fact that at 3am there are no distractions, no email, no noise, just you and your thoughts and your brain's threat system becomes louder," he said.

"The amygdala, the part of the brain that processes fear, is more reactive when we're sleep deprived."

Dr Khan explained that this is exactly why our worries and concerns in the day feel so much worse and less manageable when we wake up in the middle of the night.

Finally, if you do wake, it's important to steer clear of screentime and try not to become too consumed with the anxiety of being awake.