Know Why You Feel Jerks While Falling Sleep
There is a lot of scientific meaning to what happens to your body daily. From the feeling of thirst to the feel of fear or pain, everything has a reason and obviously a cause. It may be a warning sign your body is giving you about any health issue or it may just be a daily phenomenon that you may have never noticed. If noticed carefully and deeply you may even check out your hear beats without the help of a stethoscope.
Now let us consider one such happening of our body. Ever felt a twitch while just getting into a deep sleep? Or got up suddenly by feeling like falling from a height? Everybody may have experienced it once or may be more in your lifetime.
The Scientific Theory
The phenomenon that is experienced is a brief and involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles, which is scientifically known as MYOCLONUS, myo meaning “muscle” and clonic meaning “jerk”. It is described as a medical sign and is generally not a sign of disease. These myoclonic twitches, jerks or seizures are usually caused by sudden muscle contraction (positive myoclonus) or brief lapses of contraction (negative myoclonus). The most common circumstances under which they occur is while sleeping, known as HYPNIC JERK. Hiccups are a kind of myoclonic jerk. Myoclonic jerks occur in healthy person and is occasionally experienced by everyone. However, if they occur more persistently and is widespread they can be a sign of many neurological disorders.
The jerks or jolts experienced while falling asleep has various names such as HYPNIC JERKS, NIGHT STARTS, SLEEP STARTS and HYPNAGOGIC JERK (a term used to describe the period of time when falling asleep).
What Causes You To Jerk
The jerk is experienced like a mild electric shock that may wake you up completely making you feel tensed or may only slightly disturb your sleep. When you wake up suddenly with this kind of jerk you may feel like you are experiencing a sudden and dramatic falling.
The jolts are nothing but a way of self-defense by the body. When we fall asleep, the frequency of our breathing slows down. Due to which our pulse rate also slows down along with lowering the body temperature and shifting muscle tone. Our brain interprets this as a sign of death. So to save us the body gives us a jolt. In simpler words it is a reflex action from your body similar to when you get burned and suddenly pull away your hand. A way of saving you from danger.
It is a common phenomenon, nothing to worry about. So when you feel the same next time, take a deep breath and get back to your sleep.
The Other Facts Related To Hypnic Jerks
As mentioned above, they are a common phenomenon, but after experiencing them if you feel anxiety and stress, and are not able to sleep after, consulting a doctor is must. These jerks should not bother your sleep and mental status.
Many other factors are also believed to contribute to hypnic jerks, they are:
- Fatigue or being very tired.
- Stress and depression.
- Heavy workout late in the evening.
- Anxiety.
- Caffeine.
- Alcohol.
- Sleeping in an uncomfortable position.
To partially improve your sleep from heavy jerks, avoiding the above factors may help. Also including meditation and relaxation exercise will also be helpful. Ensure intake of magnesium and calcium supplements to help muscle and nerve relaxation. Last but not the least eat healthy to remain healthy.
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