Waking up in the middle of the night and then having trouble falling back asleep can have some negative effects on your health. Your body will feel tired and stressed because you don’t get enough sleep. This condition can also lead to long-term health effects such as weakened immune systems, weight gain, and increased risk of heart disease and chronic diseases, according to the health website Verywell Health (USA).

Common causes of middle-of-the-night startles include:

The bedroom is too hot.

Room temperature and sleep quality are closely related. To fall asleep, your body temperature needs to drop. However, if the room temperature is too hot, it will be difficult for your body temperature to drop, making it difficult to fall asleep. If the room is too hot, it can also cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes people to temporarily stop breathing while sleeping. It is caused by the muscles in the throat relaxing too much, causing obstruction of the airway. Common signs of sleep apnea include snoring, feeling tired, having difficulty concentrating, and sometimes having a dry mouth and sore throat the next morning.

Excessive stress

Stress not only causes difficulty sleeping, but is also a common cause of waking up in the middle of the night. To reduce stress, people can apply some methods such as meditation, deep breathing exercises or regular exercise.

A study published in the journal Advances in Preventive Medicine found that exercise can help improve sleep quality and duration. Even a 10-minute walk at lunch or after dinner can help reduce stress.

Nocturia

Nocturia is one of the most common causes of waking up in the middle of the night, especially in older adults. Frequent urination at night is not only due to drinking too much water before bed, but can also be a warning sign of type 2 diabetes or a urinary tract infection, according to Verywell Health.