Why the body feels sleepy during morning hours?
Feeling sleepy during the morning hours can be attributed to several factors, primarily linked to the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. This internal clock regulates sleep patterns by responding to environmental cues like light and darkness. In the morning, especially if you've woken up early or haven't had sufficient sleep, your body may still be in a state where the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is active. Melatonin levels typically rise in the evening and decrease in the morning, but if they haven't dropped sufficiently, you may still feel drowsy.
Another reason for morning sleepiness is poor sleep quality or insufficient sleep. If your body didn't get enough rest during the night, it may not have fully completed the various sleep cycles necessary for feeling refreshed. Sleep debt accumulates, leading to a groggy, tired feeling in the morning.
Lifestyle factors also contribute to morning drowsiness. For example, a heavy meal or alcohol consumption late at night can disrupt sleep, making it harder to wake up feeling alert. Stress and anxiety can also affect sleep quality, leading to fatigue in the morning.
In some cases, morning sleepiness could be a sign of sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, which prevents restful sleep and causes excessive daytime sleepiness.