Expert issues warning to people constantly waking up too early as it could be sign of life-changing illness
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/golubovy
Most people complain that they can’t get up in the morning but regularly getting up too early could be a health concern that needs your attention according to an expert.
Some people claim they simply aren’t a morning person, while others insist that they are most alert and focused first thing in the morning (lucky b*stards).
Well, for those that often find themselves wide awake from sleep very early, even before their alarms have had a chance to make a bunch of noise this could be an early sign of a debilitating hormonal condition.
Speaking to the Mail Online, Dr Gaurav Agarwal warned that getting up early could be one of the first signs of the condition and that is more often found in women than in men.
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The condition sees the body release excess amounts of a hormone that stimulates the system and makes a person alert.
The condition is often referred to as an overactive thyroid but is also known as hyperthyroidism and it affects one in 100 people.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone ultimately speeding up the body's metabolism.
When left untreated, some of the more minimal unpleasant symptoms include thin hair, dry eyes, neck swelling, anxiety and unintended weight loss.
However, the more serious and life changing symptoms and complications can cause weakening of bones and irregular heartbeats that could lead to fatal heart failure.
Dr Agarwal said the condition is ‘relatively common in the UK’, but the early signs are often missed.
He added: “It's seen more commonly in women than men, usually between the ages of 20 to 40.”
Lisa Artis, deputy chief of The Sleep Charity and sleep advisor also spoke on the condition, adding: “If your thyroid is overactive, the stress response can become imbalanced, causing you to wake up too early and feel restless.”
Graves’ disease is the immune system condition that causes hyperthyroidism and in turn for the thyroid to produce more hormone in the first place, essentially kicking the chain off.
Graves' disease is caused by the body's disease-fighting immune system not working correctly however doctors don’t know the reason for this.
But don’t panic just yet, before you go writing your body off, it is best to check with a healthcare professional about your overall health and wellbeing.