There are many types of sleep disorders that interfere with peoples lives. Your brain recharges, cells repair themselves and your body releases important hormones.
Sleep is absolutely essential as a human being. It’s also a very mysterious phenomenon which scientists continue to study.
Here are some sleep disorders and bizarre things that go on while you snooze into the mysterious thing we call sleep.
1. Sleep paralysis
“Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which a person, either falling asleep or awakening, temporarily experiences an inability to move, speak or react. It is a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep, characterized by complete muscle atonia (muscle weakness).
It is often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (such as an intruder in the room) to which one is unable to react due to paralysis, and physical experiences (such as strong current running through the upper body). (Wikipedia)
2. You’re jerked awake by body spasms
“A hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch or night start, is an involuntary twitch which occurs just as a person is beginning to fall asleep, often causing them to awaken suddenly for a moment. Physically, hypnic jerks resemble the “jump” experienced by a person when startled, often accompanied by a falling sensation.
Hypnic jerks are associated with a rapid heartbeat, quickened breathing, sweat, and sometimes “a peculiar sensory feeling of ‘shock’ or ‘falling into the void.'” A higher occurrence is reported in people with irregular sleep schedules. (Wikipedia)
3. Your eyes dart like crazy
“Blind people can still see images in dreams. REM sleep typically occupies 20–25% of total sleep, about 90–120 minutes of a night’s sleep. The first REM sleep period occurs 90-120 min after sleep onset with the last REM period usually being the longest and normally occurs close to morning. (Wikipedia)
4. Your muscles regenerate thanks to the Human Growth Hormone
“A good night’s sleep may be the key to the body’s production of human growth hormone, touted by some as a cure-all for the ills of aging, from weight gain to wrinkles. (ChicagoTribune)
5. Your throat changes; it becomes narrow
“While you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and your throat becomes narrow and “floppy.” As you breathe, the walls of the throat begin to vibrate – generally when you breathe in, but also, to a lesser extent, when you breathe out.
These vibrations lead to the characteristic sound of snoring. The narrower your airway becomes, the greater the vibration and the louder your snoring. (Sleepfoundation.org)
6. You grind your teeth
“Although the causes of bruxism, or teeth grinding are unknown, one study links it with such factors as anxiety, stress, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, caffeine, sleep apnea , snoring and fatigue. (Sleepfoundation.org)
7. Your pee is dark in the morning because your kidneys slowed down overnight
“During sleep, physiological demands are reduced and temperature and blood pressure drop. Physiological activities are reduced during sleep. For example, kidney function slows and the production of urine is decreased. (Harvardmedical)
8. You dream crazy stories
“Varying explanations for dreaming, as well as the meanings of dreams, have been offered by philosophers and psychologists throughout history. Even with recent scientific investigations of dreaming, our dreams still remain something of a mystery.
Some experts suggest that dreams represent the replay of the day’s events as a critical mechanism in the formation of memories, while others claim that the content of dreams is simply the result of random activity in the brain. (Harvardmedical)
9. You hear explosions a.k.a. exploding head syndrome right before you drift off
“Exploding head consists of a loud noise that you suddenly imagine just before you fall asleep. It can seem like a violent explosion has gone off in your head. It can also occur as you wake up in the night. (Sleepeducation)
10. Sleep Talk
“Anyone can experience sleep talking, but the condition is more common in males and children. (Sleepfoundation)
11. You feel like you’re falling
“Researchers believe that people dream about falling to their death at least 5 times in their lifetime. One theory about falling in our dreams suggests that you may have lost control over a particular situation in your life. (dreamdictionary)
“Sleepwalking mostly happens in childhood, typically between the ages of 4 and 8. But adults can do it, too. (Webmd)
13. Recurring dreams
“Recurrent dreams occur in between 60% and 75% of adults, and more often in women than men (Zadra, 1996). The common themes include: being attacked or chased, falling, being stuck, being late, missing or failing an exam, and even losing control of a car. Theoretically, recurrent dreams are assumed to reveal the presence of unresolved conflicts or stressors in an individual’s life. (Psychologytoday)
14. Sleep S*x
“Many times, people who engage in sleep s*x have a history of other sleep disorders such as REM behavior disorders, apnea, bed-wetting, and sleepwalking, to name a few. Some have seizure disorders. All this suggests neurochemical disorders in the brain. (Webmd)
15. Sleep texting is the new sleepwalking
“Sleeptexting is a growing phenomenon in which people (usually adolescents and young adults) send text messages while asleep. Researchers say it’s being classified as a parasomnia, putting it in the same class of sleep disorders as sleepwalking, night terrors, and bedwetting.
For many sleeptexters, the disorder is just as embarrassing as any of the above, especially when the recipient is anyone other than a trusted friend or family member. (Theatlantic)
16. Smells won’t wake you in the deepest sleep
“As it turns out, the phrase wake up and smell the coffee is more true than you would imagine. When you are asleep, your sense of smell shuts down. You can smell only the coffee after you have woken up. (MirrorUk)
17. Your heart rate drops
“One of the possible functions of sleep is to give the heart a chance to rest from the constant demands of waking life. As compared to wakefulness, during non-REM sleep there is an overall reduction in heart rate and blood pressure. (Harvardmed)
18. During REM sleep, you may experience arousal since your brain is very active
“Sleep is a very active state. Our bodies move frequently, as we roll about during the night, and, more importantly to the psychologist, our brain activity is even more varied than it is during the normal waking state. (Psychologyworld)
19. Your temperature drops while your brain releases melatonin which helps you sleep
“During sleep, our central set temperature is reduced by 1 to 2°F. As a result, we use less energy maintaining our body temperature. It has been hypothesized that one of the primary functions of sleep is to conserve energy in this way. (Harvardmed)
20. You get taller! The load is lifted from the spine causing discs to rehydrate.
“The discs in your spine that act as cushions between the bones rehydrate and get bigger because the weight of your body isn’t pressing down on them, like it is when you’re standing,” says Dr. Breus. “If you have a firm mattress, sleeping on your side in the fetal position may be best for getting taller because it decreases the load on your back.” (Womansday)
21. Skin produces more collagen
“The top layer of the skin is made of closely packed dead cells which are constantly shed during day. During deep sleep, the skin’s metabolic rate speeds up and many of the body’s cells show increased production and reduced breakdown of proteins. (Dailymail)
“Though a person can change their sleeping position about 35 times a night, the muscles of the body remain relaxed. This gives the chance for tissues to be repaired and restored. (Dailymail)
Don’t forget to give this a like and a share on Facebook before you go, and leave us a comment below!