3 serious diseases that often wake you up at 3 am

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Sleep disorders are mostly harmless, but constant nighttime awakenings can be a cause for concern.

Frequent nighttime awakenings can become a problem if left unchecked. Identifying the cause of the problem can also prevent serious consequences, such as disability and death.

Almost a third of people wake up three nights or more a week.

While it is not always possible to pinpoint the exact reason why a person wakes up at 3 a.m., understanding the common causes of sleep disorders can help people sleep better at night.

The causes of nighttime awakenings are varied.

However, when the cause is a medical condition, the ailments can fall into one of three main categories; cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and neurological disorders.

“High blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke are linked to poor sleep quality, including waking up during sleep.” These conditions impair sleep quality due to poor blood circulation, as the body relies on increased blood flow during both non-rapid eye movement sleep and REM sleep. Another disorder associated with nighttime awakenings is respiratory diseases, such as sleep apnea.

“In addition to obstructive sleep apnea, other breathing disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can disrupt sleep during the night.”

Common signs of respiratory disorders include waking up with a dry mouth and morning headaches.

Finally, neurological disorders are the third most common cause of nighttime awakenings.

While it is normal for people to experience a number of changes in their sleep patterns as they age, people with conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease are more likely to experience nighttime awakenings and trouble getting back to sleep.