Hypnagogic jerks, also known as “sleep onsets,” are involuntary muscle contractions that some people experience during sleep. They may feel like they are getting muscle cramps.
Hypnic jerks are a type of sleep myoclonus. This is the scientific name for the movements the body makes during sleep.
Some hypnic shocks are mild and barely noticeable. Others can be strong – someone who was about to fall asleep and then suddenly woke up felt it.
Hypnic shocks are common and occur randomly. The exact cause of these seizures is unknown, but certain factors increase their likelihood.
Hypnic shock is not dangerous. If they do not cause distress or other symptoms such as incontinence, injury, pain, or confusion, the person experiencing them does not need to see a doctor or seek medical attention.
This article will explore hypnic tremors, how common they are, and how to reduce their frequency.
What is Hypnic?
Hypnic jerks are involuntary contractions of one or more muscles that occur during sleep. It occurs in stages 1 and 2 of sleep and tends to disappear in stage 3, which refers to rapid eye movement. In other words, it occurs when a person moves from a state of wakefulness to a state of sleep.
Hypnic jerks are a type of involuntary muscle movement called myoclonus. Hiccup is another common form of myoclonus.
Hypnic strength may vary. Some people may not be aware of their physical activity and only know they are active when a partner or carer notices them. At other times, the spasms may be strong enough to startle and wake the person.
In addition to hypnosis, people may experience other symptoms, such as:
feeling as if falling or stumbling
a sensory flash that may feel like an electric shock
hallucinations or vivid dreams, usually about falling
These feelings are not a symptom of any medical condition. However, if they are intense, they can prevent the person from falling asleep and cause insomnia.
Sleep myoclonus is when a person’s body shakes and shakes while sleeping or falling asleep. Explore more.
Frequency
The authors of a 2016 study noted that hypnic shocks can occur randomly and affect people of all ages.
Additionally, researchers have found that 60-70% of people fall asleep when they are close to falling asleep. However, people who experience them usually do not have them every time they sleep.
Reasons
In most cases, there is no specific cause of hypnic shock. These things happen to most people for no reason.
However, there are some ideas and theories about why these sleeps occur.
Possible reasons may include:
Excessive fatigue and lack of sleep
Excessive fatigue can cause drowsiness. They can also occur when someone sleeps in an awkward position.
A stimulant
Body and brain stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, or certain medications can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. They can also increase the frequency of hypnic beats.
Stress and anxiety
High levels of stress and anxiety can make it difficult to relax enough to sleep. An alert brain is more easily startled, so a person is more likely to wake up when their muscles tense up.
The results of studies using EEG show that certain brain activity occurs during hypnosis, called apical spikes.
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