Usually, people awake for a moment when experiencing a hypnic jerk with a falling or jolting sensation or one thing that resembles a jump.
WHY DO HYPNIC JERK HAPPEN?
Namely, 70 % of people experience hypnic jerk once in a whereas and the actual explanation for this development hasn’t been discovered yet. However, the subsequent factors could have an influence:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Caffeine
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Sleep deprivation
- Hard exercise few hours before time of day
- Uncomfortable sleeping position
One theory implies that hypnic jerks occur because the nervous system slows down and relaxes whereas shifting from being awake to sleep. At now, the respiratory slows down, the temperature reduces, and the muscles relax. During this process, the nerves may send signals improperly and thus cause muscle spasms.
Furthermore, another theory claims that the brain gets confused sometimes during the relaxation process before sleeping. Thus, it may send signals to the arms and legs to move to an upright position because the brain thinks that you’re falling.
CAN YOU STOP HYPNIC JERKS AND HOW TO DO IT?
As it was already mentioned, hypnic jerk is a common occurrence that happens to the majority of people. Unfortunately, you cannot make this jerk disappear completely and permanently. Still, you can take some precautions regarding the factors that can increase the chances of experiencing these jerks. Here’s what you can do:
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine at least 3-4 hours before bedtime;
- Avoid doing exercises late in the evening;
- Increase the intake of magnesium and calcium, as a result of they're useful for muscle and nerve spasm;
- Make sure you're in an exceedingly comfortable position, which you have got a comfortable pad and pillow;
- Introduce some relaxation exercises for sleep so as to cut back stress and anxiety.
SOURCE: CUISINEANDHEALTH