Dr. Yelena Kolesnichenko, a sleep medicine specialist, warned that frequent awakenings at night are not necessarily normal, but rather may be an early sign of health problems that require attention and medical follow-up.
She explained the difference between transient awakening associated with normal sleep cycles and sleep disturbance that affects its quality and continuity, indicating that opening the eyes for a few seconds during the stages of light sleep, changing the position of the body, and then returning to sleep without remembering this is considered normal. But anxiety begins when the total number of waking periods exceeds 30 minutes per night, and it becomes a repetitive and regular pattern.
Many people may not know that their sleep is interrupted, because short periods of wakefulness, especially those of less than 15 seconds, pass unconsciously. But its effect appears during the day in the form of constant fatigue, drowsiness, and poor concentration. Patients often go to the doctor because of these symptoms, without knowing that the root cause is disturbed sleep at night.
The doctor indicated that frequent night awakenings may be linked to several health conditions, such as depression, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular diseases, in addition to digestive system problems. She also noted that sleep disorders may precede the appearance of clinical symptoms of some neurodegenerative diseases, such as “Alzheimer’s” and “Parkinson’s,” by years.
She explained that the causes are not always pathological or internal, as the surrounding conditions play an important role, the most important of which is sleeping conditions. An inappropriate sleeping environment may lead to interrupted sleep even in healthy people. For example, a mattress that is too hard may cause pressure points that impede blood flow to the tissues, causing the body to send signals of discomfort that lead to frequent awakenings, while excessive softness is also not an ideal solution.
She concluded by emphasizing the importance of ruling out simple factors first, such as the quality of the mattress and pillow and providing a comfortable bedroom, before looking for more complex pathological causes. If the problem persists despite improving the surrounding environment, it is best to consult a specialist to conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation.
