Preventive measures aside, what is the cure if one does wakes up in the middle of the night and can’t ease back into sleep again? (Designed by Rajan Sharma)
Do you have those annoying episodes where you wake up at night and then just can’t go back to sleep? The most common causes of waking up in the middle of the night include an urgent need to pass urine, which can be a result of diabetes in middle-aged and elderly people and prostate in males. Sleep apnea, which involves the repetitive interruption of breathing, can also be a major reason for people jerking awake at night, says Dr Prashant Chhajed, head of department of respiratory medicine, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital.
To avoid such moments, where you drift awake from sleep, Dr Chhajed advises getting diabetes under control and sleep apnea treated. Preventive measures aside, what is the cure if one does wakes up in the middle of the night and can’t ease back into sleep again?
Turn out the bright lights
Bright and loud lights reduce the melatonin levels, which controls the sleep cycle, in the body. Keeping dim lights can make you drowsy, says Dr Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.
Night time is not snack time
Activities like reading, eating a snack or cooking if you get up in the middle of the night are discouraged. Eating late into the night increases your blood sugar and while you’re sleeping, the body goes into a light fast that can lead to a crash in the sugar levels. When this happens, the cortisol levels rise and the melatonin levels diminish.
Keep away from cell phones
Most people tend to get on social media or entertain themselves with some TV time if they can’t fall asleep. Dr Chhajed strictly advises against it. The cell phones emit out blue light, which is known to reduce the melatonin levels in the body that in turn, make it harder to fall asleep.
Meditation
Dr Chhajed says that medication and relaxation exercises can calm you down to go back to sleep. According to a study by Harvard, mindfulness meditation can help you sleep better as it involves focusing on your breathing and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present without drifting into concerns about the past or future.