Here's why you often wake up in the middle of the night after 40, according to a doctor
Do you wake up every night between 2 and 3 a.m.? Maybe it's because of your hormones, according to Dr. Mehdi Terki. "From the age of 40, estrogen and progesterone levels become irregular [...] and this instability makes sleep much more fragile," he describes. Indeed, he explains that while estrogen normally sensitizes the brain to the sleep-wake rhythm, its decrease affects the nocturnal signal: "the result is that you fall asleep less quickly and sleep becomes lighter."
As for progesterone, another hormone produced by the ovaries, he reminds us that it has a naturally calming effect, "via a system called the Gaba system, [...] which some anxiolytics are targeting". "So when it goes down, this soothing brake becomes less effective, so your brain reactivates faster: a noise, a thought, and a micro-alarm clock turns into a complete alarm clock," he says.
Doctor's tips for stabilizing your sleep after 40
Finally, he points to body temperature, which can promote nighttime awakenings. "With hormonal variations, the thermal margin tightens," the doctor explains, before adding that "the body is less tolerant of variations, so a hot flash or a night sweat, and the brain wakes you up immediately." In addition, he reminds us that "between 2 and 3 a.m., cortisol naturally begins to rise to prepare for wakefulness". This is why it is very common to wake up around these times when you already have a fragile sleep.
