A doctor has revealed why you “keep waking up at 3am”. According to the expert, this could be due to stress levels. Waking up at various times throughout the night is not that uncommon. Noise or needing to go to the toilet could cause this.

Have you ever wondered why you often find yourself awake at 3 a.m.? A leading medical expert has shed light on this common phenomenon, attributing it primarily to stress. While waking up sporadically during the night isn’t unusual and can be triggered by factors like noise or the need to use the restroom, persistent awakenings at the same time each night could point to a more significant issue.

Dr. Amir Khan, a familiar face from ITV, delved into the matter on his podcast, “No Appointment Necessary.” He explained that elevated stress levels could be the culprit, as they lead to increased production of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. Dr. Khan elaborated, “Cortisol follows what’s known as a diurnal variation, meaning its levels fluctuate throughout the day. Typically, cortisol is higher in the morning and decreases at night.”

However, when stress levels remain consistently high, this natural decrease in cortisol may not occur, hampering the ability to fall asleep. “When you’re constantly stressed, that crucial nighttime reduction in cortisol doesn’t happen, making it extremely challenging to drift off,” he noted.

This could result in a 3/4am wake up every night. He said: “Your cortisol level starts to rise around 3/4am and then it starts to wake you up a bit later on.

“But if you’ve got a baseline cortisol that is already high and it starts to rise naturally at 3/4am, you’re going to get up at 3/4am because it’s not a natural rise anymore. You’ve already started at a much higher level.

“That 3am waking is so common, right? It’s so common. And there just isn’t that recovery anymore.”

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On its website, the NHS highlights how stress can cause your body to release cortisol. It said: “Stress is usually a reaction to mental or emotional pressure.

“It’s often related to feeling like you’re losing control over something, but sometimes there’s no obvious cause. When you’re feeling anxious or scared, your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

“This can be helpful for some people and stress might help you get things done or feel more motivated. But it might also cause physical symptoms such as a faster heartbeat or sweating. If you’re stressed all the time, it can become a problem.”

Identifying the cause of stress

If you know what’s causing your stress, it might be easier to find ways to manage it, the NHS says.

• Some examples of things that may cause stress include:
• Work – feeling pressure at work, unemployment or retirement
• Family – relationship difficulties, divorce or caring for someone
• Financial problems – unexpected bills or borrowing money
• Health – illness, injury, or losing someone (grief after bereavement or loss)
• Significant life events such as buying a house, having a baby or planning a wedding

The NHS says you should see a GP if:

• You’re struggling to cope with stress
• Things you’re trying yourself are not helping
• You would prefer to get a referral from a GP

How much sleep do you need?

Everyone needs different amounts of sleep. On average:

• Adults need seven to nine hours
• Children need nine to 13 hours
• Toddlers and babies need 12 to 17 hours

The NHS adds that you should also see a GP if changing your sleeping habits has not helped your insomnia, you’ve had trouble sleeping for months, or your insomnia is affecting your daily life in a way that makes it hard for you to cope.