Why does my brain wake up before my body?

This question was asked in De Bary, Florida on 10/29/2013.
I have an occasional problem with sleep that leaves me totally exhausted. It is as though my brain awakens before my body. I try so hard to become awake that it leaves me so tired. I can hear my husband speaking to me, trying to get me to wake, but it is very hard to wake up. I am 71 years old, and had a few of these incidents when I was younger. As I grew older, they happened more often. It can be embarrassing. What could be the cause and what should I do?

Doctors Answers (1)

SomnoDiagnostics, Inc.
Answered on: 10/29/2013

It could be that your mind is waking you up to breathe, however without more details it is impossible to determine. This is a concern for you and should be addressed with a physician trained in sleep disorders.