Sleep paralysis
Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis (/sliːp pəˈrælɪsɪs/) is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is aware but unable to move or speak. During an episode, one may hallucinate (hear, feel, or see things that are not there), which often results in fear. Episodes generally last less than a couple of minutes. It may occur as a single episode or be recurrent.
The condition may occur in those who are otherwise healthy or those with narcolepsy, or it may run in families as a result of specific genetic changes. The condition can be triggered by sleep deprivation, psychological stress, or abnormal sleep cycles. The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a dysfunction in REM sleep. Diagnosis is based on a person's description. Other conditions that can present similarly include narcolepsy, atonic seizure, and hypokalemic periodic paralysis.
Prevention includes getting sufficient sleep and treating any underlying sleep disorders. Treatment options for sleep paralysis have been poorly studied. It is recommended that people be reassured that the condition is common and generally not serious. Other efforts that may be tried include sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.
The condition is often described in medical texts as lasting for a few minutes, but many people report episodes to be of longer duration. The paralysis itself is frequently accompanied by additional phenomena. Typical examples include a feeling of being crushed or suffocated, electric "tingles" or "vibrations", imagined speech and other noises, the imagined presence of a visible or invisible entity, and sometimes intense emotion: fear or euphoria and orgasmic feelings.
Sleep paralysis has been linked to disorders such as narcolepsy, migraines, anxiety disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea; however, it can also occur in isolation. When linked to another disorder, sleep paralysis commonly occurs in association with the neurological sleep disorder narcolepsy.
Etymology
The term "sleep paralysis" is derived from the Greek words "hypnos" (sleep) and "paralysis" (paralyzing), indicating the condition's primary symptoms of being unable to move or speak during the transition between sleep and wakefulness.
Related Terms
- Narcolepsy
- Atonic seizure
- Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
- Migraines
- Anxiety disorders
- Obstructive sleep apnea
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sleep paralysis
- Wikipedia's article - Sleep paralysis
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