why do i keep waking up at 2am

Waking up at 2 AM regularly is often linked to disruptions in the body's natural circadian rhythm, especially involving the hormone cortisol, which regulates stress and alertness. Normally, cortisol levels should be at their lowest around 2 AM, helping maintain deep sleep, and rise toward morning to wake you up. However, if cortisol is elevated at night, it can wake you up at this time. This imbalance may be caused by stress, magnesium deficiency, poor diet, or vitamin deficiencies. Other causes include anxiety, medical conditions like sleep apnea, hormone fluctuations, blood sugar levels, or environmental factors such as noise, light, or temperature. Addressing these issues through nutritional adjustments, stress management, and improving sleep hygiene can help restore more restful, uninterrupted sleep. This means waking up at 2 AM could be a signal from your body related to stress, nutrition, or health that requires some lifestyle or medical attention.