Long term early awakening may also cause some physical discomfort, such as palpitations, chest tightness, diarrhea, etc.
This situation is very common among middle-aged and elderly people, and many people think it is "old age", but in fact, it may also be "illness".
01. Depression and anxiety
A typical characteristic of insomnia in depression is waking up early. Wake up at least an hour earlier than usual, and it is more common to wake up two hours or more earlier.
If the content of the neurochemical neurotransmitter serotonin decreases in a certain area of the brain, a person will experience depression. At the same time, if the content of serotonin is insufficient, sleep time will be shortened, manifested as early awakening.
02. Thyroid disease
Overactivity of the thyroid gland leads to increased heart rate and adrenaline secretion, causing insomnia and anxiety; Hypothyroidism increases the likelihood of developing sleep apnea by 35%.
03. Gastric acid reflux
The discomfort of heartburn makes it difficult for people to sleep. Even if there is no feeling of heartburn, the acid in the esophagus can trigger reflexes and disrupt sleep.
04. Respiratory problems
Seasonal allergies and colds can lead to tossing and turning at night or early awakening, while other factors can also cause airway narrowing, such as deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, and enlarged tonsils.
In addition to the above-mentioned diseases, problems such as drinking alcohol before bedtime, playing with mobile phones before bedtime, and vitamin D deficiency can also cause "early awakening".
If you have been troubled by this problem for a long time, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly to identify the cause.
How to adjust "early awakening" in traditional Chinese medicine
Waking up early after sleeping and having difficulty falling asleep again is believed by traditional Chinese medicine to be related to the deficiency of yin and yang caused by long-term poor sleep.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the essence and qi of the human body circulate day and night every day, and there are different meridians that regulate them at different times. Corresponding treatment can be carried out according to the time of early awakening.
01. Wake up early from 1:00-3:00
This is the hour of ugliness. According to the theory of meridian circulation, the liver meridian is in order at this time. People who wake up early at this time often have problems with insufficient liver blood.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that liver blood can nourish the mind. Adequate liver blood can nourish the mind and promote good sleep.
However, if there is insufficient liver blood and blood does not nourish the mind, not only will there be too many dreams and insufficient sleep, but it is also easy to wake up in the middle of the night.
To improve sleep, one should start by nourishing the liver meridian, which can be rubbed to aid sleep.
Method: Sit on a chair and use your right hand to push the inner side of your left thigh from top to bottom, 20-30 times each time, alternating between legs.
Suitable for: People with strong liver fire, prone to losing their temper, or those with liver depression and qi stagnation, who enjoy holding back their anger.
02. Wake up early from 3:00 to 5:00
This is the Yin hour. According to the theory of meridian flow, Yin hour is the time when the flow of qi and blood in the lung meridian of the human body is vigorous. The easy awakening of Yin hour is related to insufficient lung yin.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the lungs store the soul, and only when the lung yin in the body is sufficient can the soul be nourished.
If there is insufficient qi and blood in the lung meridian, or if the lung meridian is not unobstructed, it is easy to experience insomnia, early awakening, and difficulty falling back asleep after waking up between 3-5 o'clock.
