Body Suddenly Jerks While You’re Falling Asleep
If Your Body Suddenly Jerks While You’re Falling Asleep, This Is What It Means
You’re finally in bed after a long, exhausting day, just beginning to sink into deep sleep—when suddenly, you feel like you’re falling. Your body jerks, jolting you awake. It’s abrupt. It’s unsettling. And no matter how often it happens, it never stops feeling so intense.
That sensation? It’s called a hypnic jerk—also known as a sleep start. And if you’ve experienced it, you’re far from alone. In fact, up to 70% of people report having hypnic jerks at some point in their lives.
What Are Hypnic Jerks?
Hypnic jerks are sudden, involuntary muscle spasms that happen just as you’re drifting off to sleep. They can feel like a drop, a twitch, or a full-body jolt. Often, they’re accompanied by a sensation of falling, and they can be startling enough to wake you up.
While they’re not dangerous, they can be disturbing—especially if they happen frequently or interrupt your sleep.
Why Do Hypnic Jerks Happen?
There’s no definitive explanation yet, but scientists have a few solid theories:
- The Nervous System Wind-Down
As you fall asleep, your body naturally slows down—your heart rate drops, your breathing becomes more relaxed, and your body temperature decreases. One theory suggests that hypnic jerks are just a response to this shift, a kind of misfire as the nervous system transitions into rest mode. - The Brain’s False Alarm
Another idea is that as your muscles relax quickly, your brain mistakenly interprets it as a sign that you’re falling. To “protect” you, it sends a signal to jolt your muscles—an ancient survival reflex kicking in at the wrong time.För fullständiga tillagningssteg, gå till nästa sida eller klicka på Öppna-knappen (>), och glöm inte att DELA med dina Facebook-vänner.
