What Causes Hypnic Jerks?

 Hypnogogic jerks also are referred to as sleep starts or hypnic jerks. They’re strong, sudden, and brief contractions of the body that occur even as you’re falling asleep.

 If you’ve ever been drifting off to sleep but suddenly wake with a jolt and a jerk of the body, you’ve experienced a hypnogogic jerk. Named for the transitional period between wakefulness and sleep, these involuntary twitches resemble the “jump” you'll experience when you’re startled or scared. Hypnogogic jerks are common. 

Research suggests up to 70 percent of people experience these contractions. However, not all of those moments will force you awake. you'll sleep through many of them. Hypnogogic jerks also are sometimes called sleep twitches, night starts, or myoclonic jerks. Myoclonus is a smooth muscle twitch. Hiccups are another sort of myoclonus. No matter what it’s called, this condition isn’t a significant disorder. It’s unlikely to cause any complications or side effects. However, you'll take steps to stop involuntary jerks from happening. Read on to find out more.

What are the symptoms?

It’s important to know that hypnagogic jerks aren’t a disorder. They’re a phenomenon and really common. For that reason, symptoms of this condition aren’t signs of a drag. They’re simply belongings you may experience. Symptoms of a hypnagogic jerk include:

•  jerk or jolt of a muscle 
•  part falling sensation 
•  flash dream or hallucination that results in a startle, jump, or fall 
• quickened breathing 
• rapid heartbeat 
• sweating

What causes it?

It’s not clear why hypnagogic jerks occur. Healthy people could expertise this development while not a glorious cause. analysis into this sleep phenomenon is limited, however, some theories exist. Some attainable causes of hypnagogic jerk include:

Anxiety and stress

Anxious thoughts or stress and worry could keep your brain active when your muscles try and relax as you nod off to sleep. This might cause your brain to channel “alert” signals as you’re dozing or maybe while you’re asleep.

Stimulants

Caffeine and vasoconstrictive will impact your body’s ability to go to sleep naturally and keep asleep. Chemicals in this merchandise might stop your brain from reaching deep sleep and instead startle your brain from time to time.

Exercise

Daily physical activity will assist you to pick up shut-eye, however, an exercise that’s too on the brink of time of day might cause you to a lot of possible expertise sleep starts. Your brain and muscles might not be able to bog down for sleep quickly enough.

Sleep deprivation

Sleep disturbances and poor sleep habits are also coupled to soporiferous jerks.

Is treatment necessary?

Hypnagogic jerks don’t need treatment. They’re not a significant condition, and that they won’t cause complications. Instead, treatment for somnific jerks focuses on preventing them from happening. These steps could assist you to doze off and keep asleep while not the interruption from sleep starts.

• Avoid caffeine: A morning cup of joe is OK, however, when noontide could set you up for sleep disturbances. attempt to cut back your overall caffeine consumption level, particularly within the afternoon and evening.
• Avoid stimulants: In addition to caffeine, you must limit the number of vasoconstrictive and alcohol you utilize during the day, particularly when midday. A glass of wine before bed could assist you to doze off, however, you’ll be additional doubtless to own restless sleep and to rouse.
• Breathing exercises: When you’re in bed, inhale for ten counts, hold for five counts, and exhale slowly for 10 counts. do that exercise many times to assist slow your heart rate, brain, and respiration.