An insomnia specialist has cautioned people about the potential dangers of repeatedly waking between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., warning that it may signal underlying health issues.
A doctor has spoken openly about the risks associated with waking during this specific window, admitting that the pattern once “wrecked” his own life. While waking in the night is common—often due to needing the bathroom—regularly jolting awake between 2 and 3 a.m. could indicate that something deeper is going on.
Dr. Eric Berg DC, who shares educational content online about health and wellness, has encouraged people to take note of when they wake up at night, not just how often.
Dr. Berg’s experience
In a recent YouTube video, Dr. Berg explained that cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—should normally be at its lowest point between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. However, for some people, cortisol actually spikes during this period, disrupting sleep and negatively affecting daily functioning.
He also pointed out that magnesium helps regulate cortisol levels, suggesting that sleep problems linked to early-morning waking may be connected to a deficiency. He advises anyone struggling with persistent sleep issues to consult their GP.
Describing himself as an “insomnia expert,” Dr. Berg revealed he battled severe sleep problems for over ten years. In his video, he asked viewers:
“How do you fall back asleep if you wake up between 2 and 3 a.m.? I dealt with this for more than a decade, and it was destroying my life.”
He added that the issue went far beyond brief awakenings. Some nights, he didn’t sleep at all, lying awake until morning. “It felt like torture,” he said.
Why that time matters
Dr. Berg later focused specifically on 2 a.m., explaining how the body’s circadian rhythm is meant to work. Normally, cortisol is lowest around 2 a.m. and peaks around 8 a.m. In his case, the cycle was reversed—he felt alert at night and exhausted in the morning.
Long-term sleep deprivation, he noted, has been linked to serious conditions including heart disease, dementia, and diabetes.
Ways to lower cortisol at night
Dr. Berg says there are strategies that may help reduce cortisol levels while sleeping and prevent those early-morning awakenings. One of the most important, he says, is magnesium.
A lack of magnesium can cause muscle tightness, cramps, and heightened cortisol. He explained that stiffness in the back or leg cramps—especially when pointing the toes—can be signs of deficiency.
Magnesium also supports muscle relaxation, calms the nervous system, and can help reduce anxiety and irritability. Dr. Berg recommends taking magnesium supplements in the evening before bed.
He added that magnesium levels in the body are typically lowest around 6 a.m., which may help explain why certain medical issues—such as heart attacks, strokes, and restless leg syndrome—often occur in the early morning hours.
Other possible causes
Dr. Berg emphasized that cortisol spikes aren’t the only reason people may wake up around 2 a.m. Low blood sugar can also trigger cortisol release, especially in people who consume high-carb diets. As blood sugar drops during sleep, the body may increase cortisol to stabilize it.
He suggests reviewing what you ate the previous day, noting that refined carbohydrates, MSG, alcohol, late-night eating, and frequent snacking can all interfere with sleep.
Salt cravings may indicate low sodium levels, which can also influence cortisol. Adding small amounts of sea salt throughout the day may help in such cases.
Finally, Dr. Berg mentioned that the liver is most active in detoxifying the body between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Waking during this period could point to liver stress, and he noted that milk thistle before bed may be beneficial.
Sleep, it turns out, may be telling you more than you realize.