One minute you ’re softly drifting off to slumber , and then the next , you ’re suddenly jolted awake . No , you ’ve not been betrayed by your cat leaping onto the bed or a particularly tatty stertor from your partner , but your own soundbox . This is have sex as a hypnic tug – but what exactly is it and why does it bump ?
What are hypnic jerks?
Also known as hypnagogic jerks or sleep starts , hypnic jerksare unvoluntary brawn contraction that occur just as someone is falling asleep . These contractions can happen all over the body , but are particularly vulgar in thearms and wooden leg .
Their persuasiveness can also vary , meaning they can happen without waking you up – although someone in bed next to you may well still notice .
Hypnic jerk are common , with anestimated80 percent of hoi polloi report to have know them . Many of those people may experience them alongside a sensation of falling , seeing bright lights , get word trashy phone , or let a dreaming .
They ’re also intend to be harmless . “ Hypnic jerks [ … ] are benignant phenomena that are n’t bind to any health condition or concerns , ” slumber specialist Dr Raj Dasgupta , an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California ’s Keck School of Medicine , toldCNN Health . “ Mainly they ’re just annoying , specially if they keep preventing you from falling asleep . ”
What causes hypnic jerks?
Despite the fact that most people will have had a hypnic jerk , scientists do n’t really know for sure what induce them . They do , however , have some theories .
Some revolve around factor that we already know to be involve in sleep in other means . It ’s been proposed , for deterrent example , that emphasis and anxiety , as well as excessive or late - in - the - day consumption of stimulation likecaffeineor nicotine , might make it more likely for jerks to occur . Not baffle enough sleep might also contribute .
The body , and more specifically the brainpower , might also just be play itself ; it ’s been suggest that , as the muscles relax in the outgrowth of fall at rest , the brain misinterprets it as the dead body come down and the reply to this is to make muscles contract . Similarly , it might be a answer to something going on in adream .
Can hypnic jerks be treated?
Hypnic jerked meat are n’t considered to be severe , and as such , they do n’t necessarily need treatment . However , there ’s a fragile peril that you might bruise yourself if you whack into something when they occur , and some people might also receive the experience of a hypnic jerk distressing . In such font , it ’s recommended to speak to a sleep specializer , who might suggest fashion to contract anxiety .
While there are no specific treatment for hypnic jerks , the above theory about what might cause them can head health professionals to commend fend off caffeine , improving eternal sleep hygienics – that means save a good nap routine and notdoomscrollingin bed , for model – and find way to reduce stress and up repose .
[ H / T : Popular Science ]
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