What Is Sleep Paralysis? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Sleep paralysis is caused by a short-term loss of muscle control, atonia, which occurs shortly after falling asleep or before waking up. During this condition, people retain consciousness and often experience hallucinations or feelings of suffocation. This is considered parasomnia, which is abnormal behaviour during sleep.

What happens during episodes of sleep paralysis?

During a paralysis episode, you are awake but unable to move or speak. This condition, in which a person cannot move or speak, is called atonia. This usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes.

The following usually happens:

Awareness: You are conscious and aware of your surroundings.

Paralysis: You cannot move your body or speak. You can move your eyes and breathe.

Hallucinations: Many people see, hear or feel things that are not there. This can make the experience very scary.

Fear and panic: You may feel intense fear, suffocation, panic attack and pressure in your body.

Is sleep paralysis dangerous or harmful?

No, this is not dangerous in a Reality, Although it can be a frightening experience and cause anxiety or hallucinations, it is not physically harmful. This is a natural phenomenon that occurs when a person wakes up briefly but cannot move or speak.

Remember that whilethis can be scary, it’s usually not a sign of a serious health problem. But if it happens a lot, you should talk to your doctor. They can check if something else is causing it and help you find ways to manage it.

Causes of Sleep Paralysis

The reason for this is not clear, but research suggests that it is related to the disruption of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During REM sleep, your muscles are naturally paralyzed, preventing you from fulfilling your dreams.

However, during sleep paralysis, you are between sleep and wakefulness. Nearly 25-50 percent of Americans have experienced sleep paralysis at least once. Some people with this condition also suffer from narcolepsy, where they fall asleep unexpectedly.

Experts believe that some people may have a genetic link to this disease. This can be scary and there were some interesting points to explain it. In various parts of the world, such as China, East Africa, Mexico, Newfoundland and the United States, people have long believed that demons, witches or other supernatural beings cause paralysis during sleep.

During this condition , people may hear a loud hum, feel as if they are being lifted out of bed or are flying, and may have difficulty breathing. Some scientists even believe that this may be an explanation for alien abduction stories.

Symptoms :

Here are some common symptoms

Panic Attacks
Hallucination
Breathlessness
Fear
Tightening of muscles
unable to move body
Paralysis of lims

What are the different types of sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis usually falls into two categories:

Isolated sleep paralysis:These are sporadic episodes unrelated to a diagnosis of narcolepsy.

Recurrent sleep paralysis: This condition involves multiple episodes of paralysis over time. Recurrent sleep paralysis may be related to narcolepsy.

In many cases, these two defining characteristics are combined to describe a condition called recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP), which involves repeated episodes of this condition in a person who does not have narcolepsy.

In addition, this usually occurs for two reasons:

If this happens during sleep, it is called hypnagogic paralysis or predormital . When this happens when you wake up, it’s called hypnopompic paralysis or postdormital.

How to prevent or Avoid sleep paralysis?

This can often be prevented by improving sleep hygiene. Here are some strategies that can help: Regular sleep: Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each day.

Consistent sleep schedule: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

Regular exercise:Engage in regular physical activity, but avoid exercise 4 hours before bed.

Stress management: Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation to manage stress.

Sleeping Position: If you often get sleep paralysis when you sleep on your back, try changing your sleeping position.

Balanced diet: Eat a balanced diet and avoid heavy meals, caffeine and alcohol before bed.

Inability to move or speak: This is a sign of sleep paralysis. During an episode, you may find that you cannot move your arms, legs, body, or head.

Hallucinations: Many people experience hallucinations during sleep . They can be visual, auditory or sensory and can contribute to the fear and anxiety .

Feeling of pressure: Some people report a feeling of pressure in the chest during an episode of sleep paralysis. Feeling of suffocation: Difficulty breathing can occur during this condition , which can increase feelings of fear and anxiety.

Awareness of surroundings: Despite the inability to move or speak, people with sleep Disease are often fully aware of their surroundings.

Intense fear or panic: A combination of immobility, hallucinations and physical sensations can cause intense fear or panic.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is sleep paralysis diagnosed?

Health professionals confirm or rule out this Disorder after evaluation. They may ask you:
Symptoms, such as the frequency of sleep paralysis, how you feel, and when it started.
Sleep, such as how many hours you sleep at night and whether you feel tired during the day.
Medical history, including any medications you take and whether you smoke, use alcohol or illegal drugs.
Mental health problems can include anxiety, post-traumatic stress or depression.
Family history of sleep disease

Tests to confirm the diagnosis?

A healthcare provider may recommend testing if they suspect sleep disorder. You may need:
Night study (polysomnogram): The test monitors your breathing, heartbeat and brain activity while you sleep. This allows healthcare providers to monitor or identify problems such as sleep apnea.

Standardized Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): This test measures how quickly you fall asleep and what kind of sleep you experience during naps. The test helps identify problems such as narcolepsy (abnormal daytime sleepiness), which is the most common cause of sleep paralysis.

Treatment of sleep paralysis

There are no proven treatments to stop it, but most people who experience it regularly report that focusing on small body movements (such as moving one finger and then another) helps them recover more quickly.

A healthcare provider can recommend treatments that reduce the risk of future episodes.It can also promote sleep, try to prevent sleep disorders and avoid alcohol and drugs.

Preventive methods

How to prevent future episodes of sleep paralysis?

And there’s not much you can do to prevent this Disease. But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. One of the best ways to prevent sleep paralysis is to improve the quality of your sleep.

Sleeping and waking times are fixed.
Create a comfortable sleeping environment that is dark and quiet.
Put away phones, tablets, web browsers and computers before bed.
Relax before bed by taking a bath, reading or listening to soothing music.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition of sleep paralysis Disorder?

This is a condition in which you are aware of your surroundings but are unable to move or speak between the phases of wakefulness and sleep.

What does sleep paralysis feel like?

During an episode, you may not be able to move or speak, but you can still move your eyes and breathe. Many people also experience hallucinations.

How long do episodes of sleep paralysis last?

Episodes can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Why does sleep paralysis occur?

This Disease occurs when you wake up or come out of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

You should consider seeking treatment if you feel too sleepy during the day or if your conditon of paralysis is making it difficult for you.

What Is Sleep Paralysis? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment