sleep paralysis

Causes of Sleep Paralysis

With fast moving life and changing life style, our sleeping habits have been altered to a great extent. The quality and quantity of our sleep have affected by our working habits. Our sleep has a direct impact on our health. More than 50% of our health problems are related to our sleep.

Nowadays sleep paralysis have become quite prevalent due to changes in sleeping hours, lack of sleep and many more, which we will discuss later.

Now the question is, what is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move the body. It occurs when a person passes between different stages of wakefulness and sleep. During this transition, the person may be unable to move his/her body or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Different people feel or experience differently during sleeping paralysis.

Types of Sleep Paralysis

In the medical terms, sleeping paralysis can be categorized in two types, mainly.

Isolated sleep paralysis is when the sleeping paralysis attacks are not connected to an underlying diagnosis of narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that prevents the brain from properly controlling wakefulness and often leads to sleep paralysis.

Recurrent sleep paralysis means multiple sleeping paralysis attacks over time.

causes of sleep paralysis

Causes of Sleep Paralysis

Up to as many as four out of every 10 people may have the possibility of sleep paralysis. Sleeping paralysis is a medical problem and should be treated as soon as possible. And men and women of any age can have it. Some of the factors that may cause sleep paralysis include:

  • Lack of sleep
  • Alterations in sleeping schedule
  • Mental conditions such as stress or bipolar disorder
  • Sleeping on the back
  • Use of certain medications
  • Substance abuse

Healthy sleeping tips that can contribute to better sleep and help in curing sleep paralysis:

  • Following the same schedule for going to bed and waking up every day.
  • Meditation before sleeping or going to bed can help you get comfortable and relaxed.
  • Choosing the comfortable mattress, toppers and pillows
  • Reducing consumption of alcohol and caffeine, especially during the night.
  • Putting away electronic devices, including mobile phone, at least a half-hour before sleeping.

Sleeping Paralysis is not related to night time demons or alien abductors, and is just a medical problem that is caused due to change in sleeping habits etc., there is no need to be afraid of this. If you have occasional sleep paralysis, you can follow the sleeping tips mentioned above and these will help you a long way in curing your sleeping paralysis. Start by making sure you get enough sleep at night. Do what you can to relieve stress, after day long work — especially just before going to bed. Try changing your sleeping position, if you sleep on your back. And make sure to timely consult a doctor to get rid of  sleep paralysis and  routinely prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep.

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