Everything You Need To Know About Sleep Paralysis
What is sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is a sleep-related disorder that can happen to anyone. It is temporary inability to speak or move usually occur when you are waking up or falling asleep.
Most of the people might have experienced it once or twice in their lifetime, whereas others experience it in a month or more often. Avail the benefits of cost-effective medical service in Bangalore with Cureplus.
Features of sleep paralysis:
- It is harmless
- Passes in a few seconds or minutes
- The session of sleep paralysis can be very frightening
- It occurs in all ages but most common in teenagers and young adults
What are the symptoms of sleep paralysis?
People with sleep paralysis may have signs given below:
- Inability in moving their arms and legs, head, and head as well as temporary unable to talk when they are walking up or falling asleep.
- Experience sessions that last from a few seconds to minutes.
During a sleep paralysis episode they may:
- Have the inability to take deep breaths, as there is feeling like the chest is being crushed or compressed.
- Difficulties in moving the eyes – though some people can open their eyes others find they can’t.
- They may experience hallucination during the episode such as having a sensation that someone is there in the room.
- Feel too frightened.
Sleep paralysis episodes may also a result of one of the following:
- A medication condition
- Substance abuse
- Another sleep disorder, narcolepsy
- Lack of sleep
- Alterations in sleep routine
- Sleeping on the back
- A disorder related to mental health
When does sleep paralysis actually occurs:
Sleep paralysis can take place at one of the two times. It occurs when you are falling asleep, which is called as hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis.
If it takes place when you are waking up, that is called as hypnopompic or postdormital sleep paralysis.
Is sleep paralysis a sign of something serious?
According to the research, in most of the cases, sleep paralysis is just an alarm to tell that your body is not in coordination during the stages of sleep. It is rarely connected to underlying psychological problems.
How is sleep paralysis diagnosed?
If you find symptoms like unable to speak or move for a few seconds or minutes when you are falling asleep or waking up, then it would be sleep paralysis. However, you need to confirm it with your doctor if you have any of the below-given concerns:
- Your symptoms keep you awake whole night.
- You feel anxious about your symptoms.
- You tired during the day because of your symptoms.
Your doctor may need more information about your sleep health by doing the given things:
- Doctor may ask to describe your symptoms and to maintain a sleep diary for a few weeks.
- Discuss your health as well as your family health history of sleep disorders.
- Refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation.
- May conduct overnight sleep tests or daytime nap tests.
How to treat sleep paralysis?
In most of the cases, there is no need for treating sleep paralysis. If there is an underlying condition that causes these episodes that can be treated to get rid of sleep paralysis episodes. The treatments are given below:
- Enhancing sleeping habits such as having a six to eight hours sleep every night.
- Eating anti-depression medicines to regulate sleep cycles.
- Treating another mental disorder that is causing sleep paralysis.
- Treating any other sleep-related problems, such as narcolepsy or leg cramps at night.