What is Sleep Paralysis?
Paralysis during the sleep is a phenomenon in which an individual, either during falling asleep or awakening, briefly experiences an inability to move, speak, or react for a few seconds up to a few minutes. It is a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep.
So what is the reason?
The underlying mechanism is believed to result from disrupted REM sleep, when there should be a general inability to move muscle to prevent the sleeper from acting out their dreams. It occurs either when falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, a condition called hypnagogic sleep paralysis. On the other hand, it may occurs upon awakening, the person becomes awake before the REM cycle is complete, and it is called hypnopompic.
Who Develops Sleep Paralysis?
About 8% of people experience it at one point in their life. This common condition is often first noticed in the teen years. However, men and women of any age can have it. The condition may run in families. Other factors that may be linked to sleep paralysis include:
• Lack of sleep
• Sleep schedule that changes
• Mental conditions such as stress or bipolar disorder
• Sleeping on the back
• Other sleep problems such as narcolepsy or nighttime leg cramps
• Use of certain medications, such as those for ADHD
• Substance abuse
How is Sleep Paralysis Diagnosed?
It is mainly diagnosed by ruling out other potential sleep disorders that could account for the feelings of paralysis. The main disorder that is checked for is narcolepsy due to the high prevalence of narcolepsy in conjunction with this type of paralysis.
