There is almost nothing better than laying in bed after a long day and falling asleep. But sometimes, just as you’re falling asleep, your body suddenly jolts with a falling sensation, waking you up immediately.

It’s an unsettling and uncomfortable experience, especially when you’re just trying to get a good night’s sleep. Dr. Amir Khan recently spoke about this phenomenon, reports Express.co.uk.

Dr. Amir Khan, who often shares health tips on popular British TV shows, explained in a TikTok video why this happens.

“Have you ever felt, right on the verge of falling asleep, like you’re going to collapse? That sudden jolt that wakes you up is actually called hypnic insanity,” said Dr. Khan.

“As you fall asleep, the muscles relax and the brain sometimes misinterprets this as falling. Because of this misinterpretation, it sends a quick signal to the body to ‘catch’ you and that’s why you suddenly wake up with a jolt,” he continued with his explanation.

“Some scientists believe it’s an ancient survival reflex from when we were sleeping in trees – a sudden movement can had prevented us from falling. It’s completely harmless. It happens more often if you’re stressed, if you’ve had coffee late at night, or if you’re just tired,” he added. Reassuring viewers, he concluded that the phenomenon is “totally normal and harmless.” “So the next time it happens to you, don’t panic. It’s just your brain acting a little weird.”

A hypnic tremor, or hypnagogic tremor, is a sudden, involuntary muscle spasm that occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleep, according to the Sleep Foundation. According to the organization, up to 70 percent of people experience it at some point in their lives.

These movements, also known as sleep tremors or myoclonic tremors, often feel like a spasm, a falling sensation, or a sudden jolt from your body. They usually affect one side of the body, such as an arm or leg, and may be accompanied by a short sleep or a feeling of fear.

Researchers still don’t know for sure what causes hypnic tremors, but there are several theories. Hypnic tremors and other types of myoclonus (involuntary muscle tremors) are thought to start in the same part of the brain that controls the startle response.

It is believed that when you fall asleep, there is sometimes a miscommunication between nerves in the reticular formation of the brainstem, which triggers a response that leads to a hypnic tremor. One possibility is that, despite muscle relaxation being a normal part of falling asleep, the brain mistakenly assumes you are actually falling and responds by twitching its muscles. It is also possible that hypnic tremors are a physical reaction to the dream-like images that accompany them.

To reduce the frequency of hypnic tremors, experts recommend establishing a regular sleep-wake rhythm and keeping the bedroom temperature between 18 and 20 degrees. It’s also helpful to darken and quiet the room, avoid electronic devices for at least an hour before bed, and reduce stress with exercises such as yoga and meditation. Relaxing activities like reading or taking a warm bath also help. While daily exercise is recommended, it should be avoided late at night.

Source: prizrenpost