A good night’s sleep is essential to our well-being. Today, getting enough sleep declines among the young and middle-aged. Gone are the days when 10 o’clock was considered midnight, today 11 o’clock seems to be early morning for many people. Some prefer deep sleep. But they are often sleepy. This is not an unusual problem. Dr. Jose Colon, author of The Sleep Diet, says it’s normal to wake up 4 to 6 times a night.
Here is a list of what causes sleep disturbance at any time…
Waking up between 9pm and 11pm
This is usually the time when most people sleep. The collapse occurs shortly after falling asleep. If this happens to you, it is a sign of stress and anxiety. Michael Perlis, director of sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, says, “If you’re having trouble falling asleep at the beginning of the night, it’s because of stress from life’s events.” He says.
Try meditation and yoga as a solution. Avoid cell phone and TV an hour before bed. Try reading a book instead.
If you wake up between 11 pm – 1 am…
Doctors say that if you take hard-to-digest non-vegetarian foods, vegetarian foods rich in fat and protein before going to sleep, sleep will be disturbed at this time. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the body has 12 vital energy pathways. They are associated with different organs.
At this 11 – 1 o’clock one of these energy channels will work for the Gallbladder. Do not eat large meals before this time as the gallbladder is working to break down all the fats you have consumed during the day. This will cause them to stumble. Drowsiness. So finish your meal 2 hours before going to bed. Eat fruit when you feel hungry.
Waking up between 1 am and 3 am
This is the time when the liver renews itself. If the liver is overworked at this time, it can lead to congestion. A key way to address this problem is to cut down on late-night alcohol consumption. It can worsen the sleep cycle.
Some people drink a peg because it induces sleep. But the effects don’t last long. Once the body breaks down the alcohol and metabolizes it, the brain waves are re-stimulated and awakened. So avoid alcohol at night.
Waking up between 3 and 5 am
According to the Chinese body clock this is the time when the energy channels are working for the lungs. It will strengthen it, fill it with fresh air and give you the necessary energy for the whole day.
If you wake up and cough at this time, it may be a sign that you need to eat healthy food or breathe fresh air.
Don’t do any hard work before going to sleep. Engage in outdoor exercise during the day.