Always waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning? It may be related to these 5 major diseases →

Today, we are going to talk about a problem that many people may encounter: Why do we always wake up at three or four in the morning and then can’t fall asleep again?

In fact, this is not a simple "biological clock" problem, but a signal of multiple potential diseases.

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Ms. Wu, 38, is an employee of a foreign company. Since she joined the company six months ago, she often works overtime until late at night. She feels more and more stressed at work. She often tosses and turns in bed, and it takes at least an hour to fall asleep , and sometimes she can't sleep all night. Sometimes she finally falls asleep, but she will be awakened by a little noise from the outside world . She often wakes up at three or four in the morning, and can't fall asleep again.

During the day, Ms. Wu felt weak and unable to concentrate, and her work efficiency dropped significantly. Finally, she decided to go to the hospital for treatment. After a series of examinations, the doctor found that Ms. Wu's electrocardiogram, CT, thyroid function and cardiac ultrasound were normal, but her anxiety scale score was 17 points, and she was eventually diagnosed with anxiety disorder .

Doctors remind: Early awakening is a manifestation of sleep disorder, and frequent early awakening may be a signal of the following five diseases.

Five potential diseases

1. Neurasthenia

Long-term work pressure and mental stress may lead to brain nerve dysfunction, unrefreshing sleep, easy awakening and other symptoms. It is recommended to appropriately reduce work intensity, maintain a relaxed attitude, and develop good living habits.

2. Anxiety

Anxiety disorder is a common mental problem. Patients find it difficult to relax at night, have difficulty falling into deep sleep, and easily wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning, accompanied by symptoms such as restlessness and dreaminess . It is recommended to seek help from a psychologist in a timely manner, and take sedatives under the guidance of a doctor if necessary.

3. Sleep apnea syndrome

Patients may experience more than 30 apneas at night, causing them to wake up at night, seriously affecting their sleep quality and increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. If you have unstable breathing or snoring at night, especially if you are tired during the day , you should consider a sleep monitoring test and use a ventilator to assist your breathing at night.

4. Endocrine disorders

Endocrine disorders such as abnormal thyroid hormone secretion and menopause may cause sleep cycle disorders and wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning. It is recommended to go to the endocrinology department to check thyroid function and thyroid ultrasound, make a clear diagnosis and carry out symptomatic treatment.

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Especially for middle-aged and elderly people aged 50-60 , due to the decline in physiological hormone levels and reduced melatonin secretion, they are more likely to suffer from insufficient sleep at night.

5. Heart disease

Heart diseases such as myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia may cause patients to wake up suddenly at night, accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations and dyspnea . Patients need oxygen and ECG monitoring, and take medication if necessary.

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How to improve sleep quality?

If you often wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning, you might want to try the following methods to improve your sleep quality:

1. Create a comfortable sleeping environment

Experiments have shown that small changes in the sleeping environment can significantly improve the depth and total duration of sleep. It is recommended to use blackout curtains to avoid light from electronic devices and adjust the room temperature to a comfortable level.

2. Develop good living habits

Avoid watching horror movies, playing with mobile phones, drinking coffee, strong tea, drinking alcohol, and strenuous exercise before going to bed. You can promote sleep by soaking your feet, taking a hot bath, drinking milk, and listening to soothing light music before going to bed.

Establish a fixed schedule, generally go to bed at 10:30-11:00 PM and get up at 6:00-7:00 AM to maintain the stability of your biological clock.

3. The lunch break should not be too long

Try to keep yourself excited during the day, and do not take a nap for more than 20 to 30 minutes at noon to avoid excessive daytime sleep affecting your night sleep.

4. Actively participate in sports

Appropriate outdoor exercise can make full use of sunlight to reduce the secretion of melatonin during the day. Aerobic exercises such as jogging, mountain climbing, cycling, Tai Chi, and badminton can help relieve stress and improve sleep quality.