What Is Sleep Paralysis
By: Mark ShowalterTotal Views: 291, Word Count: 532,
You must be wandering what is sleep paralysis and what actually is the cause behind it. Sleep paralysis is a type of sleep disorder that is characterized by inability to move during sleep. Individuals suffering from sleep paralysis actually are incapable of moving their body parts while in sleep. The phenomenon of sleep paralysis may occur at the very onset of sleep or just when the person is about to get up. The occurrence of sleep paralysis when the patient is just about to get into sleep is known as hypnogogic or predormital form of sleep paralysis while the one taking place during the process of awakening from sleep is termed as hypnopompic or postdormtal form of sleep paralysis.
The paralyzing effect during sleep is characterized by several symptoms. The following are the symptoms that are mainly associated with sleep paralysis.
· Patients suffering from sleep paralysis have often complained about inability to move the body especially the trunk part along with the limbs.
· Even short episodes of paralysis of the entire musculo-skeletal system is also been reported.
· The episode of sleep paralysis can also take place in a dream like state or hypnagogic hallucinations.
Though the exact answer to what causes sleep paralysis is yet to be established but several tests like sleep recording or the process of Polysomnography has revealed the following activities that happen to take place when an individual experiences the condition of sleep paralysis.
- The incidence of the suppression of the skeletal muscle takes place.
- REM or rapid eye movement may occur at the time of onset of sleep.
- The REM or the rapid eye movement gradually ceases when the person is about to recover from the episode of sleep paralysis.
The sleep disorder is often associated with hypnogogic hallucinations during which an individual in sleep may feel chocked and suffocated as if somebody is sitting on the chest or the truck part of the body. Though the sleep paralysis has a terrifying effect on patients suffering from it but no physical harm is associated with the disease as a small jerk or a slight touch can bring back the ability to move the body.
To explain what is sleep paralysis researchers have tried their best to unearth the causes behind such sleep disorders for several decades but no exact answer has yet been established. According to physicians the sleep paralysis is more common with people suffering from narcolepsy or the disorder of uncontrollable sleep episodes. Some say that the occurrence of sleep paralysis is a characterization of genetic disorder. Patients with disturbances of circadian rhythm or abnormal sleeping schedules or any form of panic disorder are likely to be affected by sleep paralysis.
To get rid of disorder like sleep paralysis you may take up sleeping aids that would promote good sleep. You may take the help of medicines like Melatrol that are effective in treating sleep disorders as well as quite safe for use.
About the Author
Mark Showalter is an expert in treating various types of sleep disorders. He has carried out series of research works that deal with the various mysteries of sleep and its associated disorders. If you find yourself to be too stressed out during the day or suffer from disorders caused by improper sleep, you may take a good medical sleep aid. You must be prudent enough to select the right one for you that would keep you away from any form of harmful side effects.
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