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Scientific reason why you wake up just before your alarm goes off

Home> News

Published 17:31 6 Nov 2022 GMT

Scientific reason why you wake up just before your alarm goes off

Many of us question why we wake up just before the alarm is set to go off, but there is an actual scientific reason behind it

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

If you've ever wondered why you often find yourself waking up just before the dreaded alarm goes off, we have some news for you. It turns out that there is an actual scientific reason behind it.

It is quite surprising that our bodies can sense time while we are in a deep sleep - but how exactly does it work?

Well, your body is controlled by a ball of nerves known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which sits in the middle of the brain.

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The nerves play a vital role as they control your blood pressure, body temperature and most importantly in unravelling this scientific mystery, our sense of time.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus can also decide when we you are feeling sleepy and when you feel wide awake, so you know who to blame when you are wanting a snooze despite eight hours sleep the previous night.

Your body clock responds to a routine, becoming more efficient when you head for bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.

Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day will impact it.
Seppo Hinkula / Alamy Stock Photo

A protein called PER is very important in this situation because it regulates your sleep-wake cycle.

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The level of proteins will rise and fall throughout the day, peaking in the evening and at their lowest at night.

Low levels of this protein will lead to low blood pressure, which makes us groggier and ready for bed.

Scientists say that if you stick to a consistent sleep schedule, your body will learn to adapt and increase your levels of PER just before your alarm is due to go off.

They say this increase will usually happen around an hour before your alarm is due to go off, as we release stress hormones.

When you haven't woken up before the alarm, it can be a bit of a shock, and as result can cause stress to your body.

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It is not nice being shocked by that dreaded alarm clock.
Andrew Paterson / Alamy Stock Photo

To avoid this, your body produces PER earlier in the night - and this is why the reason you may find yourself waking up a few minutes before the alarm goes off.

In other sleepy news, a sleep expert recently shared the perfect breathing hack to help you get back to sleep.

Phil Lawlor explained how breathing exercises can help you calm down and nod back off to sleep if you wake up.

He recommends the 4-7-8 technique, which involves inhaling through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and exhaling through your mouth for eight seconds.

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Might give it a go tonight.

Featured Image Credit: MBI /Image Source / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Sleep, Science

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

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