Have you ever been awakened by a sudden and violent jerk of a limb? This is not an isolated phenomenon, but a well-known phenomenon called the hypnagogic twitch, . Although experts don’t know exactly what causes it, in rare cases, it can be an early symptom of serious diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease or even a heart attack.
- A hypnagogic twitch is a violent twitching of a muscle when falling asleep during the night.
- The brain can mistake muscle relaxation as falling, leading to a jerk.
- According to research, this phenomenon occurs more often in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
- Repeated twitching is also associated with an accelerated heartbeat and heart attack.
Hypnagogic twitching is a phenomenon that usually occurs during the lightest phase of sleep. These sudden, spontaneous and rapid jerks most often affect the muscles of the limbs, possibly also the trunk and head.
Experts have long been trying to figure out what causes hypnagogic twitches. Research suggests that when we settle down to sleep, our nervous system and muscles relax with us. The brain may misread this as falling or tripping, to which the body reacts with a jerk.
These twitches are usually harmless. (illustrative photo)
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Although in most people these twitches are not related to any sleep disorders, researchers believe they may signal an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. An Italian team followed dozens of adults in a 2016 study and found that hypnagogic twitching is a common sleep phenomenon in patients with this neurodegenerative disease. “Since they are the cause of sleep disturbances and insomnia, they should be actively investigated,” the researchers wrote.
The researchers also revealed that these twitches are associated with a rapid heartbeat, which, when more frequent, can be a sign of underlying heart disease or even a warning sign of a heart attack.
According to the charity Sleep Foundation there are four lifestyle factors that can increase the likelihood of hypnagogic twitches:
- lack of sleep
- stress and anxiety – when cortisol levels are elevated, sleep is less refreshing,
- excessive intake of caffeine and nicotine – these are stimulants that wake up the brain and can act in the body for several hours,
- intensive exercise in the evening – it is an invigorating activity that keeps us awake, not tired. However, experts emphasize that exercise is almost always beneficial for sleep as it has been shown to improve overall sleep quality.
