YOURHEALTH

Possible reasons: Nocturnal reflux

The night-time version of acid reflux happens when the valve closing off the gullet from the stomach doesn’t work properly, allowing stomach acid to escape.

Lying flat leaves you especially prone to reflux as the acid can move up through the chest more easily, irritating the back of the throat.

Dr David Forecast, a gastroenterologist at the London Clinic and St Mark’s Hospital, North London, says: “It’s much more common in those with excess fat around their midriffs – this creates more pressure which pushes food back up when you lie down.

“Try avoiding heavy, fatty foods which can take longer to digest.” especially during sleep. The researchers don’t know the reason, but speculate it could be to do with the drug’s effect on enzymes in muscle cells.

And restless leg syndrome – the overwhelming urge to move your legs at night – can also trigger leg cramps, as can low levels of the chemical dopamine, which is needed to control muscle movement.

“Stretching exercises, taking a warm bath before bed and staying properly hydrated can help reduce the risk of cramps,” says physiotherapist

Sammy Margo. Possible reasons: Arthritis, disc inflammation

“Your mattress could be too hard or soft,” says Jessica Alexander, from the Sleep Council. “You need to change your mattress every eight to 10 years,” she says.

“To find the right one, lie on your back and see if you are able to put your hand in the gap between your spine and the mattress. If there is a big gap, the mattress is too hard. If you can’t get your fingers out easily, it’s too soft.”

The best position to sleep in is on your back with one pillow under your neck and one under your knees, as this will support the lower back.

If you suffer from arthritis – even mildly – you’re more prone at night because inflammatory chemicals in the body are more active between 11pm and 3am.

Taking an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, before going to bed may help. Regular and intense pain, however, could signify spinal disc inflammation, or in very rare instances, a spinal tumour, says Mr David Goodier, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at The London Orthopaedic Clinic. Possible reasons: Nocturnal asthma, heart condition

Ironically, it’s sleeping that can actually make you feel worse as far as asthma is concerned. Lying down means mucus is more likely to accumulate in the airways, creating pressure on the lungs.

In fact, of the estimated five million Brits who suffer from asthma, some will only realise they have the condition because it wakes them up at night.

Feather duvets can help, and your GP can prescribe medication to open the airways and prevent attacks.

But waking up gasping for air can signify serious heart problems – call NHS Direct as soon as possible. Possible reasons: Confusional arousal

More than a vivid dream, this is when something wakes us from deep sleep and we can’t remember where we are.

“Some parts of our brain can remain in a sleeping state even when we think we’ve woken up,” says Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, sleep and energy consultant at Capio Nightingale Hospital in Central London.

So while you feel awake, you might not be able to get up or speak properly. This is commonly caused by sleep apnoea, a chronic disorder in which you repeatedly stop breathing during the night, causing you to wake from deep sleep and characterised by loud snoring.

As well as getting specialist advice, help yourself by avoiding alcohol, giving up smoking and losing weight.

COUGHING BAD BACK TROUBLE BREATHING

Possible reasons: Unstable bladder, prostate problem “There’s little men can do to stop their prostate enlarging as they age, putting pressure on the bladder at night,” says Kakahama Attar, urologist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London. Medication can relax the muscles in the prostate and shrink the gland. Don’t be shy about going to your GP – an enlarged prostate is one symptom of prostate cancer. Mr Attar says: “Also, the kidneys produce more urine as we get older.” Added to which, the bladder becomes more unstable as we age, so it feels as if it needs emptying when it’s only partially full. Underlying causes can include kidney stones and even cancer, so do speak to your GP about such problems.

MUDDLED BRAIN NEEDING THE TOILET