Some people are much more sensitive to caffeine than others.

8. Hormonal Changes Can Affect Sleep

Hormonal fluctuations can influence sleep throughout life.

For example, people going through perimenopause or menopause may experience hot flashes, night sweats, or changes in sleep that lead to nighttime awakenings.

Hormonal changes associated with aging can also influence sleep patterns.

If you frequently wake feeling unusually hot or sweaty, or your sleep changes significantly during a period of hormonal transition, it may be worth discussing the symptoms with a healthcare professional.

9. Sleep Apnea May Be Hiding Behind Repeated Awakenings

Sometimes a person doesn't fully realize that they are waking repeatedly.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing interruptions.

The brain may briefly arouse the person to restore normal breathing.

Some people wake up gasping or choking. Others don't remember waking at all.

Possible clues include:

• Loud, persistent snoring

• Gasping or choking during sleep

• Morning headaches

• Dry mouth

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Witnessed pauses in breathing

If someone tells you that you stop breathing during sleep, don't ignore it.

Sleep apnea is treatable, but it deserves proper medical evaluation.

10. Acid Reflux Can Disturb Your Sleep

For some people, lying down makes symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, worse.

Reflux may cause:

• Heartburn

• A sour taste

• Regurgitation

• Coughing

• Throat irritation

• Chest discomfort

Nighttime symptoms can wake you or make it difficult to return to sleep.

Eating a large meal shortly before lying down can worsen reflux for some people.

If nighttime reflux is frequent or severe, medical advice can help determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

11. Pain Can Quietly Interrupt Your Sleep

Chronic pain is another possible reason for repeated awakenings.

Back pain, arthritis, muscle discomfort, headaches, neuropathic pain, and other conditions can become more noticeable when there are fewer daytime distractions.

Sometimes the person doesn't wake because the pain is severe. Instead, they become restless, change position, and eventually become fully awake.

If pain regularly interrupts your sleep, treating the underlying cause is usually more useful than simply trying to force yourself back to sleep.