Nervous system may cause 3 a.m. wake-ups, two doctors say

Two sleep physicians say stress can raise baseline cortisol so the nervous system treats late-night information as a threat, which can lead to early-morning wakefulness; they report that setting limits on late news and using calming, predictable night routines are among the measures they recommend.

Many people are reporting waking around 3 a.m. and having trouble falling back asleep. Two sleep medicine physicians explain that this can happen when the nervous system interprets stress or alarming information as a threat. That raised state of alertness is linked to higher baseline levels of cortisol and lighter, more fractured sleep. The doctors speak about changing evening habits and using calming strategies to reduce nighttime activation. Key points: - The doctors report that a stressed nervous system can treat late-night stimuli as danger, making it harder to stay asleep. - Cortisol naturally rises in the early morning, and higher baseline cortisol from stress can trigger awakenings. - They recommend setting boundaries on late news consumption and having clearer, more predictable evening routines. - Calming practices such as breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and stepping out of the bedroom when unable to sleep are described as ways to reduce nighttime alertness. Summary: The physicians describe how heightened stress and information exposure can contribute to middle-of-the-night wakefulness by increasing physiological alertness. Undetermined at this time.