Tag: Sleep Disorders

sleep start, sleep jerk, hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk
Posted on by Jamie

The Hypnic Jerk

sleep start, sleep jerk, hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk

You sink into your bed which feels extra warm and cosy. Your weary body thanks you for the sleep it is about to receive and you smile slightly to yourself as you begin to feel all the worries that were whirling round and round your head all day become less meaningful. Dreamy half-formed thoughts and images awash your consciousness as your breathing deepens. You are embracing the glorious state of relaxation that precedes sleep when you are crudely jolted what feels like a foot off your bed as though you just received a few thousand volts. Thanks a lot you hypnic jerk!

 

Also known as Sleep Starts, the Hypnagogic Massive Jerk, or the Myoclonic Jerk. These twitches occur during the transitional period between wakefulness and sleep that is known as The Hypnagogic state.

 

Little research has been done on this annoying, yet totally harmless anomoly, but studies suggest as many as 70% of the population have or will experience this at some stage in their life.

 

The most common hypothesis are:

  • The nerves misfiring as our brain changes our muscle tonus causing the muscles to jerk (technically known as Myoclonus) Just like a car undergoing a clumsy gear-change causing it to jolt forward
  • An evolutionary explanation is that the spasms are a primal reflex. The brain misinterprets the swift muscle relaxation for falling, causing our brain to alert our muscles to act fast thus jolting us into action.
  • One theory suggests the body is reacting to falling asleep in the same way a person may twitch when dying. The hypnic jerk being a reflex used to keep the body functioning.

Auditory and visual sleep starts

An auditory sleep start, also known as Exploding Head Syndrome, is less common than the hypnic jerk. A person hears a loud cracking or snapping sound coming from inside the head as they wake. Also reported are sounds like bomb going off, a gun shot, a doorbell (in my case) or some other indecipherable sound.

The cause is as yet unknown but in this article at Wikipedia some possibilities have been suggested; one is that it may be the result of a sudden movement of a middle ear component or of the eustachian tube, another is that it may be the result of a form of minor seizure in the temporal lobe where the nerve cells for hearing are located. Electroencephalograms recorded during actual attacks show unusual activity only in some sufferers, and have ruled out epileptic seizures as a cause.

A Visual Sleep Start is quite rare. It involves a blinding flash of light that awakens the sleeper. It can be accompanied by an auditory sleep start or can occur on its own.

 

Prevention

 Hypnic Jerks tend to occur when a person is over-tired or is trying hard not to fall asleep. Some sleep experts say stress and fatigue can exacerbate the twitches, while caffeine and alcohol can increase the frequency; so if you are plagued by these spasms avoid them.

Magnesium and Calcium are known for their positive affects on muscles and may help if you are lacking. Dietary sources of magnesium include legumes, whole grains, vegetables (especially broccoli, squash, and green leafy vegetables), seeds, and nuts (especially almonds). Other sources include dairy products, meats, chocolate, and coffee. Water with a high mineral content, or “hard” water, is also a source of magnesium.

Good sources of Calcium include: dark leafy greens such as watercress and kale. Cheese, milk and yoghurt, broccoli, almonds and canned fish.

Get comfortable

People tend to report hypnic jerks occuring when they were not in a comfortable position. Ensure you have a decent mattress and bedding and of course good sleep hygiene and good bedroom ambience go hand-in-hand with trouble-free and good quality sleep.

Do you have experience of the hypnic jerk? If so please tell us how it affects you…

 

always tired
Posted on by Jamie

Always Tired

always tired

“I’m always tired.” Is the complaint which many people find themselves repeating over and over again before they realise that exhaustion is affecting their entire life and this debilitating issue is one which affects millions of people every day.

People of all ages suffer from the symptoms of exhaustion; the dragging, heavy feeling which overtakes your body is extremely hard to deal with and can make ordinary, everyday tasks almost impossible to manage. If you’re always tired and find yourself wondering what’s wrong with you, it’s sensible to take a long hard look at your life and at your habits before seeking medical attention.

 

Asking some simple questions about your lifestyle can help to fix the issue so that you can begin to enjoy a full, productive life once more.

 

  • Do you drink alcohol? Alcohol can seriously affect your sleeping habits. It might appear to relax you but in actual fact, it puts your body under stress and causes dehydration. These factors result in a very poor quality of sleep and no matter how early you go to bed, you will find yourself tired the next day as your body struggles to process the alcohol consumed the day before. Try to avoid consuming alcohol and see what a difference it can make.

 

  • Do you drink caffeine? Many adults enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the evening but if you’re drinking them after around 6.00pm then the caffeine will play havoc with your sleeping routine. Stop drinking tea and coffee after 6.00pm and your sleep quality should improve immediately.

 

  • Are you eating late at night? Your digestion will let you know if it’s unhappy with the hours you’re keeping! Many people who work or lead busy lives in general, find that they simply don’t have time to sit down to dinner until 8.00pm. This is simply too late to eat a heavy evening meal. If at all possible, it is far preferable to eat earlier. If you simply can’t manage this, eat only a light meal such as soup, scrambled eggs or an omelette. Avoid spicy or very seasoned dishes as they’re too rich to allow a good night’s sleep!

 

  • Are you watching disturbing television programmes? It’s all very well to sit down to a nice evening in front of the television but watch what you choose to view! Murder mystery shows, ghostly goings on and science fiction may be your favourite forms of entertainment but they don’t give your brain much chance to relax! Try to opt for more peaceful things to watch in the evenings and your dreams will be less disturbed.

 

  • Are you overweight? Carrying extra pounds is something a huge percentage of the population struggle with quite literally on a daily basis. The strain on your body will add to a general feeling of tiredness and the only way to return to a feeling of well being is to drop a few pounds! Join a weight loss programme and see how your energy levels return to normal.

 

Sometimes none of the above is relevant and in this case it is important to seek medical advice. People suffer from a feeling of exhaustion for many reasons including low iron levels, glandular disorders and metabolic issues. If you feel that your lifestyle is not to blame, see your doctor and discuss your tiredness with a professional.