What illnesses can cause person to wake up suddenly at night?

Unexpected awakenings at night may be a sign of internal diseases, according to nutritionist Iana Prudnikova.

According to Ria.ru, sometimes psychological conditions can prompt a person to wake up at night, but behind such a problem can also be diseases of internal organs.

"Nocturnal awakenings, during which you go to the toilet or to the refrigerator, are the first calls to go to the doctor and be examined," Prudnikova said.

According to her, if a person wakes up at night, the first thing to do is to check the pancreas, liver and adrenal glands.

"At a minimum, you should look at the sugar curve (carbohydrate tolerance test). Pancreatic and liver biochemistry should also be checked. Doctors will also have to check the adrenal glands to determine levels of the hormone cortisol," the nutritionist said.

She said endocrine disorders related to adrenaline production can also lead to difficulty sleeping, she added.

"If a person goes to bed at night but tosses and turns, can't fall asleep and is very hungry, it suggests that he or she is actively releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream. It may even be subclinical adrenal dysfunction. The person needs to sleep at night. A person should not jump out of bed for any reason," Prudnikova said.

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