Jakarta –
Have you ever felt shocked while sleeping and then woken up? According to studies, this is a normal condition. But what is the real cause?
The condition of jerking during sleep is often referred to as “hypnic jerks”. This is a normal occurrence that can occur in men and women of all ages.
According to a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, Dr Raj Dasgupta, it is estimated that almost 70% of the population has experienced hypnic jerks.
“Medically, hypnic jerks are classified as a type of myoclonus, namely a category of fast and involuntary muscle movements. A classic example of myoclonus is hiccups,” he said in CNNquoted Thursday (4/1/2023).
What Are Hypnic Jerks?
Hypnic jerks or also called sleep onset are sudden and involuntary muscle contractions that may be experienced while falling asleep.
Hypnic is short for hypnagogic, a word that describes the transition between wakefulness to sleep, which is when the jolt occurs.
Hypnic jerks occur randomly during sleep, and usually only affect one side of the body, such as the left arm and left leg, as explained on the Sleep Foundation website.
Usually this jolt is strong enough to wake a person and disrupt the process of falling asleep. On the other hand, the symptoms may be so mild that the affected person does not notice them at all.
What causes startled jerks while sleeping?
Researchers don’t know for sure what causes hypnic jerks, but there are several theories. Hypnic jerks and other types of myoclonus start in the same part of the brain that controls the startle response.
When falling asleep, sometimes there is a ‘misfire’ or congestion between the nerves in the reticular brain stem, causing a reaction that leads to a hypnic jerk.
For example, when the muscles are completely relaxed, even though this is a normal part of falling asleep, the brain mistakenly assumes that we are actually asleep and reacts by moving the muscles.
Apart from that, hypnic jerks are also a physical reaction to accompanying dream-like images
Although no one knows exactly why the body jolts when asleep, experts believe excessive caffeine intake and physical or emotional stress can increase its frequency.
“They may also be caused by fatigue or lack of sleep. However, most hypnic jerks occur randomly in healthy people,” said Dasgupta.
Meanwhile, to reduce jolts during sleep, experts recommend reducing caffeine intake and excessive stress.
Experts also recommend trying meditation and focus before bed. It is also important to maintain a sleep routine, such as not being exposed to gadget screens or light.
Watch the video “Pay attention to sleep duration to avoid the risk of heart attack”
(do/pal)
2024-01-07 00:00:49
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