Causes of startling during sleep in adults. Startling when falling asleep: causes of cramps during sleep in adults and children. How to get rid of twitching in your sleep

Why do my legs twitch before going to bed? Every person has thought about this at least once. Sudden shuddering or twitching of muscles before going to bed or during sleep can very often be observed, both in very small and in adult people. This feature may indicate the onset of the development of epilepsy or may simply be a twitching of a certain muscle group. Sometimes it happens that a person may wake up from a feeling of a sharp jolt, which appears to be a fall.

There are several assumptions as to why a person twitches during or before sleep. Thus, at the moment of falling asleep, the frequency of the heartbeat and breathing decreases, and the activity of the body systems decreases. The brain at this moment experiences a kind of small death. And the brain, as if trying to wake up the owner, begins to send impulses to the limbs. A man shudders in his sleep. This is how experts explain hypnogogic seizures.

There can be many reasons why your legs twitch. And legs do not always twitch due to the development of some pathology. In some cases, twitching legs can be considered a normal physiological condition, while in others, such a situation may require medical attention.

The appearance of seizures is sometimes explained by restless legs syndrome. At this moment, a person speaks of a feeling of discomfort in the muscles of the leg from the knee to the foot, for example, the appearance of itching, tingling or pressing and bursting pain. These sensations are most pronounced in the evening or at night. In this case, while falling asleep or sleeping, a person experiences rhythmic movements of the lower extremities, which is accompanied by flexion or extension of the toes or movement of the entire foot. Sometimes such movements move to the upper limbs.

Sometimes, if there is insufficient nutrition of muscle tissue, cramps may also appear. By provoking seizures, the body tries to increase blood flow to a certain area, which eliminates the cause of such insufficiency. So, for what reasons does this happen, and what to do when the lower limbs twitch?

The following are the main reasons why muscles contract, resulting in the leg twitching:

Excessive stress load on the body. This situation is most typical for older people. However, this situation is often observed in people of any age and field of activity. The essence of this mechanism is that impulses from nerve endings are sent to overly tense parts of the muscles. In such a situation, you should definitely contact a neurologist. If the doctor determines the relationship between recent stress and similar symptoms, the patient will be prescribed a course of sedatives. Well, in this case, the patient will be advised to avoid nervous tension.
Twitching lower limbs during sleep can be explained by potassium deficiency in the body. In this case, such symptoms can be observed not only in the lower extremities. To accurately determine the presence of such a problem, you should visit a doctor and undergo the necessary tests. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the specialist will prescribe the necessary medications to fill the specified deficiency.
Contraction of the muscles of the lower extremities can also occur due to a nervous tic. This diagnosis cannot be treated in any way. Only a qualified specialist can help in such a situation.
Excessive exercise can cause involuntary contraction of the leg muscles.

If we talk about twitching lower extremities due to the development of some pathology, then in this case we are talking about myoclonic convulsions during the development of epilepsy. Twitching of the lower extremities at night is observed in approximately half of patients suffering from epilepsy. Such seizures occur mainly at night and are characterized by progression.

In this case, convulsions that occur as a result of the development of epilepsy can affect either one muscle group or several at once. The location of spasms often changes. Seizures can also develop due to acute oxygen deficiency in the brain tissue, as well as the presence of painful impulses of an epileptic nature or degenerative changes in brain cells, which is often observed in elderly patients.

Sometimes involuntary twitching of the lower extremities can be observed with the development of such pathologies:

anemia;
deficiency of vitamins in the body;
diabetes;
phlebeurysm;
low blood pressure;
rheumatoid arthritis;
multiple sclerosis;
mechanical damage to the spinal cord and brain;
Parkinson's disease;
chronic alcoholism.

Various theories

Since ancient times, people have been interested in why a person twitches when he falls asleep, and in connection with this they put forward their own assumptions. It was believed that when the body relaxes, the brain perceives this state as the beginning of death and therefore sends impulses to the body to awaken. After making sure that everything is fine, the brain switches to the rest stage.

Some were convinced that such conditions indicated a person's predisposition to epilepsy. But, as it was established over time, this disease and muscle impulses are not related to each other.

For a long time, mothers convinced their children that nighttime shuddering was a sign that the child was growing. Many believed this unquestioningly. But, to the surprise of most, when growing up was already over, the trembling for some reason did not stop.

Also, some scientists had their own opinion about why a person twitches when falling asleep. For example, A. Ts. Golbin was convinced that such muscle contractions are just transitions from one stage of sleep to the next. But what is the reality?

Reasons why a person twitches

In the process of falling asleep, the human brain goes through several stages, which doctors call sleep phases. In order for the body to completely relax and enter a state of complete rest (deep sleep phase), it takes about 90 minutes after falling asleep. It is during this period that shudders predominantly occur, interrupting sleep. Most often, the fact that a person twitches while falling asleep is explained by the following reasons:

Viability check
. For the brain, the process of falling asleep is to a certain extent similar to the process of its death. Because of this, in some people the brain wants to make sure that everything is normal and neither it nor the body is in a state of dying. To this end, the brain sends impulses to the muscles, causing them to contract sharply, which becomes an indicator of normality for the central nervous system. When this process takes place in a normal rhythm, it does not cause awakening and the person does not even notice it. When the brain suddenly experiences a persistent feeling of dying, which is usually caused by alcohol or drug intoxication, the impulses it sends to the muscles become too strong. From such a start awakening occurs.
Sound impact
. When a person is in a state of falling asleep, his body goes not only into a resting phase, but also into a state in which it reacts with increased sensitivity to any sound influence. The reason for this mechanism lies in ancient times, when the first people lived surrounded by many predators and had to be ready for defense at any moment. As a result, today, when a person falls asleep - and especially after a day full of emotional stress, any rustle or even a strong gust of wind outside the window causes a sharp contraction of muscles. This reaction is aimed not only at awakening, but also at bringing the body into a state in which it can quickly move on to active physical actions. Thus, the phenomenon can be called protective. Usually it does not occur if a person does not have emotional overloads, which always provoke, albeit hidden, a feeling of danger.
Relieve excess load
. In such a situation, shuddering at the moment of falling asleep occurs in people who are physically overworked or suffering from chronic fatigue. Shaking allows you to eliminate muscle tension and relax as much as possible, using up the remaining energy in the muscle fibers. Most often, this reaction does not cause discomfort and does not interfere with falling asleep. If the condition disrupts normal sleep, this means that the body urgently needs rest, since in order to relax it has to use too much force, and this is already a symptom of overwork.
Uncomfortable sleeping position
. Sometimes a person in the process of falling asleep begins to twitch for the reason that the position he chose for sleep or the bed turned out to be uncomfortable for the internal organs and there was stagnation of blood in them or, on the contrary, there was a lack of blood. As a result of this, the brain gives a signal that the position should be changed, and after that it forces the muscles to contract strongly and sharply several times in order to activate blood circulation. It is these muscle contractions that cause awakening with a start.

Modern research

Today, sleep scientists have a different explanation for why people twitch when falling asleep. After repeated experiments, it became obvious that short-term muscle contractions allow the body to relax to a greater extent. It has been observed that such tremors usually occur after a hard day. In this case, the load could be not only physical, but also psychological. As a rule, the body is not able to relax fully after the stress it has experienced. That is why the brain sends impulses to the muscles of the body, after which complete relaxation occurs. Scientists gave this phenomenon its name - myoclonus.

Features of night cramps

Myoclonus is an unusual physiological phenomenon. On the one hand, it is studied comprehensively. On the other hand, little is known about him. Scientists have found that there are 2 types of limb twitching when falling asleep: positive and negative myoclonus.

Experts call “positive myoclonus” the active contraction of muscles. This is when, when falling asleep or directly during sleep, a person’s arms and legs twitch, and their eyelids tremble. Cramps when falling asleep can be expressed in twitching of the whole body. It is usually the most intense and often provokes awakening.

Negative myoclonus, on the contrary, is a complete relaxation of nerve endings and a decrease in muscle tone. The syndrome can spread to one area (for example, legs) or the entire body. In the second case, convulsive twitching is observed.

Muscle twitching during the process of falling asleep occurs in both children and adults. The movements can be:

synchronous and asynchronous;
rhythmic/arrhythmic;
spontaneous;
reflexive.

Most often, the limbs, shoulders, and facial facial muscles shudder. Physiologists explain the process of formation of these convulsions by the fact that a certain group of nerve fibers going to the muscles is suddenly simultaneously excited. Tension occurs, causing the leg, face, or entire body to twitch during sleep.

Quite often, doctors explain shuddering when falling asleep as myoclonic spasms.

They are characterized by irregular twitching of the limbs while falling asleep or immediately after falling asleep.

It is believed that the following negative factors can provoke myoclonus:

brain asphyxia;
unreasonable refusal of sedatives or antihypertensive drugs;
psychological disorders;
pathological processes occurring in the nervous system;
depression;
chronic stress.

What can you do?

Most often, myoclonus is not enjoyable, and many would like to avoid it. What can you do to minimize the likelihood of flinching? There are several recommendations that you need to heed. But if, after making efforts, your leg still twitches when falling asleep or your whole body shudders, it is better to consult a doctor. So here are some tips:

Ask a loved one for a light relaxing massage.
Prepare an infusion of chamomile and valerian.
Do light exercises that include simple stretching exercises.
Take a 15-minute bath with a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Review your schedule and try to sleep at least eight hours every night.
Take sedatives and vitamin complexes.

Pathology or normal?

Myoclonus is characteristic not only of humans, but of almost all living beings. Light tremors in the body in the form of rare single or group movements while falling asleep are considered normal. Doctors agree that this is still a physiologically determined and absolutely normal functioning of the nervous system.

The pathology is considered to be involuntary tremors that occur with varying frequency and frequency throughout the night's sleep. On the one hand, they themselves lead to sleep disturbances. A constantly startling person wakes up periodically and, as a result, cannot get a good night's sleep. His sleep phases may also be disrupted. On the other hand, myoclonic convulsions that do not stop after falling asleep may indicate disturbances in the functioning of the body.

Doctors identify the following features of cramps when falling asleep:

They are never tied to a specific part of the body, so it is impossible to predict the appearance of twitching.
In some cases, convulsions are pronounced in nature and are felt as a large single shudder. In others, they may have the character of a small trembling of the whole body when falling asleep (tremors).
Doctors also consider the feeling of falling when falling asleep to be a type of myoclonic spasms.
Myoclonus usually occurs during REM sleep. That is why it leads to awakening.
Obsessive, recurring convulsions from night to night often accompany diseases of the nervous system (panic disorders, phobias, depression).

In order for sleep convulsions in adults to occur as rarely as possible or to stop completely, you need to properly organize the culture of night rest.

It is important to always follow a routine and go to bed at the same time, preferably at 11 pm.
You should not watch TV at night, especially films and programs that excite the nervous system. It is advisable not to sit too long at the computer. If possible, you should remove this technology from the bedroom; the telephone is no exception.
Before going to bed, most doctors recommend taking a leisurely walk in the fresh air or at least doing a few simple gymnastic or breathing exercises on the balcony. This will help you fall asleep quickly.
If you don’t want to go for a walk, you can listen to light music, read a book, or meditate.
The bedroom must be ventilated, and in the warm season the window must be left open at night.
Just before going to bed, it is advisable to take a warm bath with aromatic salt or essential oils of lavender, rosemary, mint, and citrus fruits.
You need to sleep in pajamas made from natural fabrics. This also applies to bed linen - it should be cotton or linen. To prevent cramps due to cold feet, you can wear thin socks.
If a person often wakes up due to cramps that arise as a result of an uncomfortable body position, you need to purchase a good orthopedic mattress, which should be moderately hard and guarantee a natural physiological posture during sleep.
Complete darkness and silence in the bedroom is of great importance. The sleep hormone melatonin, which affects health, is produced only in the complete absence of light and sounds. Under these conditions, the brain quickly relaxes, falling asleep occurs quickly, the body and nervous system are fully rested, which helps get rid of night cramps.
If people shudder at night due to a deficiency of potassium, magnesium and calcium, they need to enrich their daily menu with greens, vegetables, milk and dairy products. In addition, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of drinks that contain large amounts of caffeine and have the ability to stimulate the nervous system.

Myoclonus with sedentary life

As already noted, a person shudders when falling asleep only after a hard day, but sometimes this phenomenon occurs in people who lead a sedentary or recumbent life. Unfortunately, this indicates severe muscle strain, and there is likely blood stagnation. In this case, in order to avoid subsequent health problems, the person needs to have a massage. It is also advisable to start moving. If this is not possible, you need to periodically change your body position.

But you should not forget that myoclonus also occurs after experiencing stress, overexcitation and strong emotional disorders. To calm down, you should take a herbal bath and drink warm tea, milk or another healthy relaxing drink.

Children often experience too strong emotions. Mothers may notice their babies' legs twitching as they fall asleep. Therefore, before going to bed, they need to calm their child down, give him a pleasant massage, read or draw with him.

What to do if you twitch while you sleep

If you find yourself with symptoms of the above diseases that cause persistent sleep disturbances, then you need to visit a doctor. He will conduct additional tests in order to make a diagnosis. A good result is obtained from a polysomnograph examination. This device records muscle contractions when a person sleeps, which helps make a diagnosis.

Polysomnography is a modern method for diagnosing sleep disorders

When movements at night during sleep are caused by physiology, treatment is not required. Only in cases where they interfere with a good night's sleep or are associated with constant nightmares, you can contact a specialist to prescribe sleeping pills. But it's better to try:

organize your day correctly;
avoid too vigorous physical activity;
do not overeat before bedtime;
create a comfortable environment (dimmed lights, quiet music);
take a bath with decoctions of medicinal herbs;
drink mint tea or warm milk at night.

Trembling when falling asleep and during sleep does not always indicate illness - this is a normal physiological reaction of the body that does not require treatment. But if there is a suspicion of illness, or due to this background a person does not get enough sleep, depression appears, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

When shuddering occurs when falling asleep in adults, there may be various reasons. These include both severe chronic diseases and normal physiological processes that do not harm health.

Winces in babies

Sometimes parents notice how their very young children twitch when falling asleep. This phenomenon alarms them, and they sound the alarm. But you should not forget that a baby’s sleep is completely different from that of an adult. Let us remember how a person falls asleep and that his deep sleep phase can last from two to three hours. While in babies this period lasts only an hour. Afterwards comes shallow sleep. During this period, the baby can move its legs and arms. Therefore, you should not be afraid if your baby twitches in his sleep, because this indicates that your child is not in the deep sleep phase and is dreaming. During this time, you should avoid waking the child, as this may affect his well-being.

It is best to provide him with a restful sleep so that the child is not disturbed by anything. To do this, before putting the baby in the crib, arrange a warm bath with the addition of soft soothing herbs. Also install an unobtrusive night light in the room itself. Such measures will help your baby relax and have pleasant dreams.

Often at a doctor’s appointment you can hear the complaint: “I twitch when falling asleep. This makes it difficult to sleep further. What to do?". The problem of jerking when falling asleep is familiar to many people. It is not always the cause of disturbances in the body. It is usually associated with stress and does not require drug treatment. So, what causes shuddering when falling asleep?

To answer the question: “Why do I twitch when falling asleep?”, Let’s consider the physiological mechanisms of this phenomenon. Doctors call convulsions when falling asleep myoclonic. At one point, the brain sends special impulses to the muscles, causing a strong contraction. The reasons for the occurrence of impulses are still not fully understood. Scientists have three main versions.

Before falling asleep, all processes in the body slow down. Breathing becomes weak and shallow, pulse slows. The brain regards this situation as a threat to life. To restore activity to the organs, it sends nerve impulses to all or only some muscles. The result is a twitching or spasm.
Another group of scientists associates twitching with changes in sleep phases. At the moment when REM sleep gives way to deep sleep and vice versa, brain activity changes dramatically. Therefore, signals arise and, as a result, trembling in the body.
Most practicing psychologists and neurologists argue that myoclonic spasms when falling asleep occur due to overload of the nervous system. The more stress you had during the day, the more you shudder before going to bed. The nervous system re-experiences unpleasant sensations.
According to the fourth version, such twitching is associated with minor health problems. Thus, vibrations may be felt in the muscles if they are not sufficiently supplied with oxygen. The occurrence of convulsions and seizures is associated with a lack of calcium or magnesium. Therefore, if you wake up with a start, get tested. An experienced doctor will help you identify what substance is missing and prescribe a vitamin and mineral complex.

The first three groups agreed that such symptoms are not pathological. Periodic tremors in the body while falling asleep are normal in adults. For children, things are a little different. Vibrations and twitching can occur not only when falling asleep, but also during sleep. The reason for this is the imperfection of the nervous system. However, even in small patients, periodic shudders are normal.

Sometimes sedative or hypnotic drugs can cause seizures. Be sure to describe your symptoms to your doctor. The need to adjust the treatment regimen cannot be ruled out.

Periodic vibrations before sleep - myoclonus - are normal. What else is interesting about myoclonic jerks?

Myoclonic spasms do not require separate treatment. If a deficiency of any microelements is detected, the doctor may prescribe a vitamin-mineral complex.

Myoclonic spasms rarely occur in people with a strong nervous system. If you often twitch and wake up from this, you should contact a psychologist for help.

The cause of shuddering while falling asleep can be not only physiological myoclonic spasms. The second possible problem is twitching leg syndrome. As you may have guessed, this causes the leg or both legs to tremble.

“Why do my legs twitch before and during sleep? I sleep very lightly, I get scared, I can wake up, then I won’t sleep until the morning” - this question is not uncommon when a conversation arises about sleep disorders. Indeed, sometimes the trembling is too strong. So much so that you wake up in a fit and cannot fall back to sleep for a long time.

Why do your legs twitch before going to bed? The main cause is sensorimotor disorder. It causes discomfort in the limbs. It intensifies when the legs are stationary for a long time, which happens at night. A person begins to subconsciously move his legs to relieve pain, burning and tingling.

There are many reasons for the disorder.

So, your leg twitches if you have:

In all these cases, the fact that the leg is twitching is the least of the problems. You need to urgently consult a doctor, look for and treat the cause.

It happens that vibrations and twitching in the legs occur for no reason in pregnant women. In this case, the discomfort will go away soon after birth. But it is necessary to be examined by a doctor. The main thing is to exclude the most dangerous diseases.

Twitching legs syndrome most often occurs in older people. Less often - in adults. Children and adolescents suffer from it extremely rarely.

How can you normalize your sleep if you periodically startle in your sleep? There are some tips.

Why does an arm, leg or whole body twitch before falling asleep? The reasons can be very different: from harmless myoclonic seizures to severe Parkinson's disease. Severe convulsions are almost always accompanied by stress and fear, which in the long run causes even greater tremors. If the problem bothers you for a long time, consult a doctor.

Most often, shaking before bed does not threaten your health. This is how the nervous system reacts to stress that arises during the day. If the shaking is too severe, to the point of seizures or convulsions, consult a doctor.

After a busy day of work, the long-awaited time for relaxation finally comes. The person falls asleep, the body is relaxed, the brain is pleasantly foggy. But, suddenly - a sharp push, a feeling of falling, and a premature awakening. Why does a person twitch when falling asleep? Are tremors dangerous or are they annoying episodes that should be put up with - scientists, doctors and healers comment on the condition.

How to get rid of twitching in your sleep?

It should be immediately noted that if the syndrome is caused by pathological causes (for example, epilepsy), then you will not be able to solve the problem on your own - you must contact a qualified specialist who will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

In the same case when twitching occurs for physiological or external reasons

, then you can try to get rid of such manifestations by following the recommendations given below.

Limiting vigorous physical activity
. Try not to overload your body with heavy, monotonous work. If this is impossible, then pay more attention to rest, use protective equipment (support belts, corsets, etc.). Strong physical activity before bedtime is especially contraindicated - it should be completely avoided;
Be calm and balanced
. Try to avoid stressful situations, do not become depressed. If you can’t get rid of your problems on your own, make an appointment with a psychologist and undergo the necessary course of therapy;
Ensure maximum rest at night
. Thick curtains and drapes, good sound insulation, maximum comfortable thermal conditions - prepare in advance;
Take multivitamin complexes
. In some cases, frequent twitching during sleep can be caused by a lack of minerals, trace elements and vitamins. Take vitamin and mineral complexes on a regular basis, especially during periods of acute shortage of nutrients - in autumn, winter and spring.

Healthy and restful sleep, unfortunately, is not available to every modern person - according to statistics, about half of the world's population has some kind of problem with falling asleep and quality rest at night.

However, if you listen to the tips below, you can significantly improve your overall sleep quality and feel great in the morning.

Counting time
. Healthy sleep is 8 full hours of night rest. Try to distribute your time rationally, do not sit at the computer until late at night, leave unfinished tasks for the morning;
Normalize your circadian rhythms
. It is advisable to go to bed and get up at the same time. The optimal time to go to bed is no later than 10 pm. If you cannot fall asleep by this time, then it is better to skip daytime naps, but get a good night's sleep;
Moderation in everything
. During the waking period, try not to overload yourself physically and emotionally, take regular breaks;
Adjust your diet
. Eating at night is very harmful to the stomach and sleep. At least 3 hours before the night's rest, do not eat food, give up too fatty, fried and unhealthy foods, replacing them with vegetables, fruits and juices. Eat small meals, at least 5 times a day. Forget about coffee and black tea before bed;
Relax
. A set of relaxation activities before bed at home includes a light walk for no more than 30 minutes, a comfortable warm shower or bath with aromatherapy, massage, and good sex;
The best microclimate and bed
. Choose a reliable, comfortable bed with an orthopedic mattress and pillow, a comfortable blanket and bed linen made from natural materials. Maintain the temperature in the bedroom at about 18 degrees, ventilate it regularly and humidify the air in the room.

The legs twitch when falling asleep in all healthy people, regardless of gender, age and physical condition. Another thing is that a sleeping person cannot always remember this. They wake up only when the muscles contract too sharply and strongly, or last throughout the entire night's sleep. Everything else passes without a trace and without harm to health.

The scientific explanation for the startle when falling asleep

In ancient times, ancestors made completely mystical assumptions, explaining why a person twitches when he falls asleep. A parallel was drawn between falling asleep and the temporary departure of the soul to the kingdom of the dead. The involuntary twitching was perceived as a fearful reaction to the devilish touches.

The scientific approach to the study of startling during sleep includes different theories - from the first signs of incipient epilepsy to functional disorders of the hypothalamus (a part of the brain). Both hypotheses were found untenable.

Somnologists turned out to be more convincing. The study of the physiological phenomenon of individual theorists led to the conclusion that the cause of shuddering when falling asleep in both children and adults is a change in sleep phases. According to another theory, the hypothalamus uses reflex muscle movements to check whether the body is alive - after all, the brain perceives slow breathing, a decrease in pulse and heart rate during sleep as extinction.

Similarly, a cause-and-effect relationship has been identified between fatigue from daytime physical, psychological or mental overload and nighttime twitching. The reasons why a person twitches in his sleep are now systematized and grouped.

Symptom elimination

If a person shudders in his sleep due to the development of epilepsy, then treatment with medications that are administered orally or administered through intramuscular injections is effective in this case. The most positive results in this case can be achieved by taking antipsychotics.

If we are talking about the consequences of the stress suffered, then it is necessary to eliminate factors that may interfere with healthy and restful sleep. To do this, it is recommended to turn off the TV, computer, and mobile phone shortly before bedtime, and also provide dim lighting. Half an hour before bedtime, you can listen to soft music or read a good book. This will adjust the body and eliminate all stimulating causes. These measures will help you avoid leg twitching due to overexcitement or increased emotionality. The habit of drinking tea shortly before bed has a very negative effect. You should avoid eating an overly heavy dinner.

If twitching of the lower extremities is caused by a lack of vitamins in the body, then it is necessary to reconsider the diet. However, you should not resort to strict diets and fasting.

If the methods listed above are ineffective, then medications are prescribed. Thus, sedatives may be prescribed, for example, motherwort tincture, valerian or other similar medications.

In any case, regardless of the reasons that contributed to leg twitching before or during sleep, you should not ignore this situation or put up with it. After all, such a condition can be a symptom of some serious disease. In this case, it is imperative to seek qualified medical help. And then, in addition to excluding the development of possible pathology, no one until today has denied the need for healthy and full sleep.

The long day has come to an end. You fall onto the bed, pull up the blanket, just begin to plunge into the kingdom of Morpheus... and suddenly you shudder. It's like you're falling to the floor.

Or a wall collapses on you. Why does a person twitch when falling asleep? Does this condition require special treatment?

Physiological factors of night twitching

A sharp contraction of muscles when falling asleep and during sleep, similar in sensations to an electric shock, is called nocturnal myoclonus. Increased muscle tone generates positive myoclonus, decreased muscle tone generates negative myoclonus.

The simultaneous excitation of the nerve fibers going to the muscles leads to the fact that a person shudders in his sleep, he twitches, and a large tremor runs through the body. This phenomenon is classified in medicine as hypnagogic twitching.

The causes of physiological myoclonus fit into the following versions:

Neurophysiological. During the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep phase, the body and muscles are as relaxed as possible. A discrepancy is brewing between muscle tone and the “dying” body. To return to life from a state of sleep similar to death, the brain sends an impulse signal to the muscles. A strong shock, interrupting relaxation, causes a person to twitch when falling asleep.
Sleep phases. The alternating phases of paradoxical (shallow) and orthodox (deep) sleep affect brain activity. Dynamism is manifested in the signals sent to the brain, in response to which the human body begins to tremble.
Chronic stress. The cause of myoclonic spasms can be neurotic disorders or stress experienced during the day. The excited nervous system does not relax at night and re-experiences painful sensations before falling asleep.
Physical exercise. Overloaded muscles that are in good shape for a long time (sports, hard work, long walking) are not able to relax even during sleep. To gradually relieve tension, the brain sends an impulse to the muscles, which, by contracting, reduce tone - as a result, a person shudders or twitches in his sleep or at the moment of falling asleep.
Circulatory disorders. They are observed against the background of insufficient blood supply to the vessels, mainly of the lower and upper extremities. Oxygen-starved vessels collapse, limbs go numb, which prompts the brain to immediately send a signal order to change position. In a dream, a person tosses and turns, twitches, and even wakes up briefly. Changing posture leads to normalization of blood supply.
Myoclonus of fear. A sharp noise, a bright flash of light makes a sleeping person jerk sharply. The body's reaction is often accompanied by profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat, and tachycardia.
Myoclonus with apnea. A brief cessation of breathing during sleep causes the brain to wake up, followed by a start.

The listed symptoms, according to experts, are not a deviation, but a normal phenomenon. Jerking during sleep in children is also considered physiological (benign) myoclonus. Since the phases of sleep in children alternate and last differently than in adults, they twitch more often in their sleep or when falling asleep. The child's startling, even if it is constant but does not interfere with sleep, is also normal.

The theory of convulsions and tremors during sleep

Normal physiological startle occurs during REM sleep, when sleep begins. This muscle twitching is scientifically called myoclonus. The synonymous medical term is hypnagogic jerks. If twitching continues throughout the night's sleep, this is a symptom of pathological processes, most often occurring in the brain.

The nature of this phenomenon is as follows: the impulse from the brain to the muscles travels along nerve fibers collected in bundles. Each nerve “activates” the area of muscle tissue allocated to it (this is called innervation). As a result of the transmission of the impulse, the nerve is excited, and this excitation is transmitted to the muscle fiber, the muscle contracts. When, for some reason, the entire nerve bundle is simultaneously excited, the person shudders sharply. This is myoclonus.

The physiological reason that the body, when a person begins to fall asleep, twitches at night in his sleep is the excessive vigilance of such a part of the brain as the hypothalamus. Before the REM phase of sleep, the muscles of the body relax as much as possible, the person falling asleep has a lower temperature and blood pressure, and shallow breathing. The hypothalamus “considers” this condition to be life-threatening, since the symptoms are similar to dying, and sends a jerk impulse to restore all vital functions and awaken the person to life. Thus, muscle tone and relaxation of the body come into conflict, and the sleeper shudders. The same picture is observed with apnea - a sudden stop in breathing during sleep.

Note: most often hypnagogic twitching occurs when a person sleeps on his back. And in the same position apnea occurs. And sometimes, in order to get rid of myoclonus, it is enough to learn to sleep on your side.

With nocturnal myoclonus, twitching in the muscles is felt as if irritated by a current of varying strength. Hypnagogic contractions are divided into physiological (within normal limits) and pathological (a symptom of a disease). This is not the only division. Myoclonus varies depending on:

muscle condition;
volume of “involved” tissues;
frequencies;
duration;
the nature of the shudders.

Based on all these signs, it is possible to determine whether the contractions are normal or go beyond its limits.

Abbreviations negative and positive

Positive myoclonus occurs when muscles actively contract, and negative myoclonus occurs when muscle tone decreases and general relaxation of the body. This condition should not be confused with so-called sleep paralysis. This is a phenomenon in which an awakened person realizes that he cannot force his body to move. The natural shutdown of muscle activity in the REM sleep phase is necessary to ensure that there are no sudden body movements that interrupt the approaching drowsiness.

But sometimes such immobility accompanies awakening, when the brain has already begun to wake up, but not so much that nerve impulses safely pass to the right place. The body is still sleeping. This moment is characterized by a state of panic and fear: it seems that there is someone else in the room.

To get out of sleep paralysis, you need to try to move the thumb of your right hand if the person is right-handed, or left for a left-hander, or show some other smallest possible physical activity (movements of the eyeballs, tongue, etc.)

From one muscle to the whole body

In a dream, not only legs and limbs in general can twitch: hypnagogic twitching occurs with the arms, facial (facial) muscles and others.

Hypnagogic jerks are considered:

local, if one muscle contracts (most often these are slight twitches);
regional, if a muscle group contracts;
generalized if several muscle groups contract simultaneously.

A person suddenly wakes up in a dream, just in the case of generalized myoclonus. When we “fall through” in the REM sleep phase and tremble with our whole body. Such abbreviations are also typical for nightmares (persecution and others), when it is necessary to escape in a dream. At the same time, the person shudders and wakes up in a cold sweat, this is a sign of adrenaline release. The same signs are dry mouth, tachycardia, tremor (shaking of the hands).

Duration and frequency of the condition

Normal hypnagogic twitches are single, they last very short and are characteristic of the first seconds of falling asleep. When limbs twitch all the time during sleep, this may signal a disruption in the functioning of the brain. The main factor influencing the appearance of pathological myoclonus is damage to the cerebral cortex, and the myoclonus itself, appearing against this background, is called cortical.

A prolonged contraction is already a cramp. Convulsive muscle contractions are signs of disease.

In addition, twitching can be:

spontaneous or provoked;
synchronous or asynchronous (when, for example, one leg twitches when falling asleep, and not both);
reflex;
rhythmic or arrhythmic.

Provoked hypnagogic twitching is caused by strong external stimuli (loud sound, bright light, etc.).

Restless legs syndrome is common among adults suffering from:

arthritis;
rheumatism;
circulatory failure;
deficiency of iron and other microelements;
diabetes mellitus and other endocrine system disorders.

In addition, the etiology of this unpleasant condition also includes gastric problems. Symptoms of RLS include unpleasant or painful sensations in the legs:

tingling;
burning;
nagging, aching pain, localized mainly in the knees, calf muscles and feet.

During the remission stage of the underlying disease, RLS may subside, but during an exacerbation, the legs begin to twitch and ache every night. In old age, when such diseases become chronic, restless legs syndrome literally deprives people of sleep, since the symptoms intensify at rest, especially when lying down, and at night.

Aching pain and discomfort prevent a person from sleeping. Such a patient either makes movements with his legs, which are colloquially called “spinning a bicycle,” or gets up to walk around and warm up, after which relief comes. In advanced cases, twitching causes the foot to bend strongly.

A sign of poor circulation in the extremities is cold feet, but people find it easier to fall asleep after a hot foot bath, with a heating pad in their feet, or simply wearing warm socks.

Pathological factors of myoclonus

Pathological myoclonus occurs for a number of reasons that determine whether it belongs to one type or another. Unlike physiological myoclonus, the pathological variety can be observed not only when falling asleep or during sleep, but also during the daytime.

The pathological background of the phenomenon of throwing up and jerking when falling asleep is often associated with brain lesions. Known as cortical myoclonus. Expressed in the following diseases:

Epilepsy .
Oxygen starvation of the brain, degenerative movement disorders, and epileptic seizures lead to progressive muscle cramps. When falling asleep or in a dream, the whole body can shake, as well as individual parts - an arm, a leg, or there is an involuntary twitching of the head.
Essential myoclonus. A hereditary rare disease that develops from childhood. It is characterized by periodic arrhythmic and asymmetrical twitching of the limbs, sometimes of the maxillofacial muscles.
Hereditary degenerative lesions of the brainstem and cerebellum.
Viral inflammatory processes in the brain - tick-borne and other encephalitis.
Pathologies of the basal nucleus of the brain, affecting the motor function of the body.
Destruction of nerve fibers in pathologies of internal organs.
Neuroses and mental disorders.
Convulsions and tremors, more often affecting the lower extremities, are associated with a lack of calcium and magnesium in the body. A suitable vitamin and mineral complex prescribed by a doctor after laboratory tests will eliminate vibrations during sleep and when falling asleep.
Pathology known in medicine as Willis disease, Ekbom phenomenon or RLS (restless legs syndrome). It is expressed in the form of unpleasant twitching of the ankle when falling asleep and at night.

The factor that provokes cortical myoclonus is intoxication of the body, especially poisoning with salts of heavy metals. Injuries, taking or, conversely, abruptly stopping certain medications can also cause shuddering throughout the body and convulsions when falling asleep.

Both benign and pathological myoclonus are characteristic of representatives of both sexes. But boys and girls, that is, young people, suffer less often than the older generation.

How to get rid of the problem?

The best cure for night tremors is a healthy lifestyle. Prevention of nocturnal myoclonus is simple and straightforward:

develop a sleep schedule (and optimally, a general daily routine);
do not eat before bedtime;
sleep in a well-ventilated room;
avoid overstimulation in the evening;
do not drink coffee and strong tea;
quit bad habits - at least later in the day.

A very effective folk method is to steam your feet before bed and drink a glass of chamomile tea. A mild sedative effect is also provided by taking medications such as Novopassit, Valerian, Glycine, etc. But if you learn to always go to bed at the same time, you will not need sedatives.

In the evening, it is better to take a walk in the fresh air rather than sit in front of the TV or computer. Physical activity, hard work - everything that is fraught with overwork needs to be postponed for a day. And no negative emotions or stress.

Leg twitching during sleep is not dangerous as long as it is spontaneous and not aggravated by any warning symptoms. Physiological nocturnal hypnagogic muscle contraction does not need to be treated.

The following are the main reasons why muscles contract, resulting in the leg twitching:

Excessive stress load on the body. This situation is most typical for older people. However, this situation is often observed in people of any age and field of activity. The essence of this mechanism is that impulses from nerve endings are sent to overly tense parts of the muscles. In such a situation, you should definitely contact a neurologist. If the doctor determines the relationship between recent stress and similar symptoms, the patient will be prescribed a course of sedatives. Well, in this case, the patient will be advised to avoid nervous tension.
Twitching lower limbs during sleep can be explained by potassium deficiency in the body. In this case, such symptoms can be observed not only in the lower extremities. To accurately determine the presence of such a problem, you should visit a doctor and undergo the necessary tests. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the specialist will prescribe the necessary medications to fill the specified deficiency.
Contraction of the muscles of the lower extremities can also occur due to a nervous tic. This diagnosis cannot be treated in any way. Only a qualified specialist can help in such a situation.
Excessive exercise can cause involuntary contraction of the leg muscles.

Sometimes involuntary twitching of the lower extremities can be observed with the development of such pathologies:

anemia;
deficiency of vitamins in the body;
diabetes;
phlebeurysm;
low blood pressure;
rheumatoid arthritis;
multiple sclerosis;
mechanical damage to the spinal cord and brain;
Parkinson's disease;
chronic alcoholism.

Prophylaxis to prevent physiological myoclonus

Typically, nighttime twitching does not annoy a person and does not interfere with sleep. Minor discomfort experienced when falling asleep generally does not disturb the peace of night's rest. However, for people suffering from sleep disorders, twitching and sudden startlings do not allow them to fall asleep quickly and soundly. In this case, tips aimed at relaxing the body and calming the mind and brain will help:

refusal of traumatic television programs, reading action-packed literature, unpleasant conversations an hour before bedtime;
exclusion of late snacks and tonic drinks;
taking a warm shower;
before going to bed, detachment from daytime worries and painful thoughts;
herbal soothing teas;
balanced nutrition throughout the day, eliminating calcium and magnesium deficiency;
breathing relaxation before bed with yoga exercises;
A light relaxing massage is not forbidden;
if desired, taking aroma baths with calming essential oils (orange oil, lemon balm, lavender, lemon);
comfortable temperature and complete darkness in the bedroom;
Bedding made from natural fabrics and a comfortable bed are also important.

An aroma lamp in the bedroom with extracts of plants such as chamomile, lemon balm, rose, geranium, lavender will provide relaxation, regulate the pulse and quickly fall asleep. Symptoms of benign myoclonus do not require medical intervention, much less treatment. Simple measures aimed at normalizing sleep will reduce the negative sensations from nighttime twitching when falling asleep.

When there are no diseases

If a person who regularly shudders in his sleep is not diagnosed with illness, work must be done to eliminate severe evening overload of the body, ensure relaxation of the body and relieve nervous tension. There are many simple and pleasant ways to do this.

Half an hour before bed, take a bath, maybe with essential oils

Warming - when the body is warm, the body does not need to activate blood circulation, and, therefore, twitching is unnecessary. In the evening, 30-40 minutes before bedtime, it will be useful to take a bath with essential oil. The water temperature should not be too high to avoid overheating, but sufficient for pleasant warming. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes. You can’t lie down immediately after a bath; you need to sit for 10-15 minutes. This is necessary to restore normal heart rhythm.
Evening walks - when twitching of the limbs occurs due to energy not wasted during the day, walking in the fresh air helps. They speed up metabolic processes and burn remaining energy, which will lead to problems when falling asleep. The walk should last 30-40 minutes. There is no need to strain your body and walk fast or even run. You need to dress in comfortable, warm clothes according to the season so as not to feel the cold.
Eliminating screens before falling asleep - TV or computer negatively affect the brain in the evening, overloading it with information and awakening it with its intense light. As a result, when falling asleep a person is not in a sufficiently relaxed state, which is why shudders develop. It is better to read a book (paper only) 2 hours before bedtime. You can also do handicrafts and painting.

In the vast majority of cases, the problem of night shuddering does not pose a danger to a person, does not require treatment and is effectively corrected when the rhythm of life changes. Sleep becomes normal, spasms, twitching and vibrations disappear.

Human sleep is divided into several stages. Their scientific name is sleep phases. Even if you are very tired during the day and it seems to you that you are falling asleep instantly, in fact this process occurs gradually.

On average, it takes about one and a half hours for a person to enter the long sleep phase. It is at the moment of transition that a shudder, or otherwise a contraction of the body muscles, can occur.

One theory suggests that startles are a side effect of an underlying struggle for control in the brain that occurs at the threshold between wakefulness and sleep.

Usually a person is paralyzed during sleep. Even if a person sees the most vivid dreams, his muscles remain relaxed and calm, not showing any signs of his inner agitation. Events occurring in the outside world are usually ignored.

Experiments have shown that even if a person sleeps with his eyes open and someone flashes a light in front of him, this is unlikely to affect his dreams. However, the doors between the inner and outer worlds are not completely closed.

Hypnagogic jerking as you fall asleep is completely normal, says James K. Walsh, executive director and senior scientist at the St. Louis research center. In this case, muscle contraction occurs and the body twitches. As a rule, this happens during the transition from the waking phase to sleep. This process is literally momentary.

Most researchers on this problem suggest that hypnagogic jerking occurs because the body enters a resting phase and relaxes.

The main causes of uncontrollable shuddering during sleep are overexertion, physical exertion, fatigue, stress, etc. The autonomic nervous system does not always cope with such phenomena, and during the transition to the long sleep phase, the muscles involuntarily contract, trying to relax. This same factor is the reason why your legs twitch in your sleep. Also, at the subconscious level, trembling can be accompanied by dreams in the form of flying or falling from a height.

Doctor consultations and diagnostics

If all the efforts made do not bring the desired result, and twitching when falling asleep develops into a convulsion, it makes sense to visit a neurologist (neurologist). Diagnosis of myoclonus at the first stage is based on the patient’s description of the symptoms of night twitching and visual observation of muscle contractions (if they occur during the daytime).

Clarification of the diagnosis and identification of the causes of myoclonus is carried out using:

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method that studies brain activity.
Additional biochemical blood tests for the content of sugar, urea, creatinine - reveal disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, disruptions in metabolic processes, or indicate a decrease in kidney function.
Imaging processes - CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain or radiography of the skull.

A neurologist prescribes and conducts the examination. In severe cases, hospitalization to a neurological clinic is indicated to make an accurate diagnosis of myoclonus.

"Restless Legs"

Restless legs syndrome is another common cause of startling in sleep, which can wake the sleeper. It most often affects adults over 35 years of age, although young people are not immune from it. The phenomenon is caused by the fact that unpleasant sensations arise in the legs, which a person does not detect in a dream, but the brain gives a command to eliminate them. As a result, muscle contraction occurs, which improves blood circulation and eliminates discomfort. This explains why the legs twitch.

It is unlikely that you will wake up with restless legs, but if this happens, then congestion is already strong

Waking up in such a situation does not occur often, since the sleepers do not startle much, and this does not lead to changes in body position. However, the quality of sleep is greatly deteriorated, since the deep sleep phase is constantly disrupted due to vibration. Because of this, even after a rest of 8 hours, a person feels weak and general malaise. Such twitching occurs mainly at night. Awakening in this situation can only occur if congestion in the limbs is intense and the movement to eliminate them is strong.

The following causes the problem:

lack of iron in the body;
renal failure;
diabetes mellitus – only type 2;
Parkinson's disease;
complications after surgery on the stomach and upper intestine;
pinching of the spinal cord processes;
varicose veins;
severe hormonal imbalances in the body;
venous insufficiency of the lower extremities;
arthritis of the leg joints;
pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
disorders of the thyroid gland;
traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Quite often, the appearance of “restless legs” syndrome is associated with pregnancy, when the enlarged uterus compresses the veins and impairs blood circulation in the legs, which causes twitching. If there are no other pathologies, then the condition is not dangerous and resolves itself after the birth of the child.

In cases where awakening occurs regularly when starting during sleep, the cause should be sought in defects in protein metabolism or alcohol abuse.

Health care

Since the causes of physiological myoclonus are associated primarily with a person’s lifestyle, there is no need to treat it. The measures taken to normalize the process of falling asleep are usually enough for the phenomenon to go away on its own over time without consequences. In case of frequent manifestations of twitching when falling asleep and during sleep, the patient is prescribed sedatives - Novopassit (liquid or tablets), tincture of valerian, motherwort.

Excruciating cramps that cause pain and disrupt proper sleep require therapeutic intervention. As a rule, treatment is a multi-stage process. To get rid of myoclonus when falling asleep, prescribe:

Correction of the underlying disease leading to myoclonus. Usually this is a violation of biochemical processes in the body. Therefore, the first stage is to treat metabolic disorders. The syndrome is accompanied by pathologies such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, myocardial ischemia, even heart attack.
In the case of epileptic nature of twitching when falling asleep, anticonvulsants are prescribed.
General restorative therapy - taking sedatives and short courses of sleeping pills. This also includes all the principles of a healthy lifestyle.

Treatment of cortical myoclonus includes complex therapy. A course of potent drugs is prescribed:

Nootropics are brain stimulants.
Steroid drugs for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system - corticosteroids.
Neuroleptics are antipsychotic drugs.
Sedatives (reducing anxiety) are a class of benzodiszepines.

For positive dynamics of treatment of cortical myoclonus, it is important to correctly draw up a treatment regimen, which entirely depends on the qualifications of the doctor. In turn, the patient must tune in to a long and difficult recovery process, which requires endurance and patience.

Myoclonus syndrome does not pose a threat to human health. The benign variety can be eliminated by adjusting the daily routine and developing healthy habits. Pathological myoclonus is smoothed out in the process of systematic treatment and compliance with doctor’s instructions.

Most likely, there is not a single person on Earth who would not experience periodic startles when falling asleep.

Interestingly, scientists have not yet come to a consensus on why you startle when you fall asleep. There are 2 main versions of such tremors, and several more secondary ones. And I want to offer one version from myself, as a person who from time to time feels such awakening jerks when going to bed.

First of all, let's describe the flinch itself.

We are talking about a situation when you seem to have just fallen asleep when your body makes a jerk (shudder) of one force or another. Sometimes the shaking is so strong that the person literally hits the wall or bed with some part of the body.

Now, why do such shudders happen? As already mentioned, scientists have not reached a consensus on the origin of these shudders.

Unfortunately, this assumption does not seem competent enough, because Every person, when falling asleep, goes through the same sleep phases every time. In theory, then the shudders should happen every night, but they are quite rare.

Perhaps the implication is that startles occur only when a person moves too quickly from one stage of sleep to another.

The second assumption about startling when falling asleep is a reaction of a small part of the brain (the hypothalamus) to slow breathing and heart rate.

By forcing the muscles to contract sharply (at the same time the person feels the mentioned shudders), the hypothalamus thus checks the viability of the body. We are talking about a kind of testing of systems to make sure that the body is alive and functioning normally.

But if the hypothalamus tests internal systems in this way, then such a test would have to be carried out every time you fall asleep. However, as already mentioned, such flinches occur only from time to time, quite rarely.

Other causes of shuddering when falling asleep may include:

The result of stress and emotional experiences in a specific period of time;
Lack of magnesium in the body;
Reaction to external stimuli.

In other words, the question of the origin of the startle when falling asleep remains unexplored.

The best recipe for a restful sleep is well known:

First, you need to relax before going to bed, for example, you should have dinner before 6 pm, avoid smoking and drinking caffeine.

Secondly, if possible, you need to develop a strict sleep schedule - that is, fall asleep and wake up at approximately the same time.

It would seem, what surprises can the body present if a person is completely healthy? However, people often encounter such a problem as a strong start at the moment of falling asleep, which abruptly returns to wakefulness. Of course, in the daytime, when you need to perform any duties, this is very useful and is unlikely to cause anyone dissatisfaction, but at night this phenomenon can cause difficulty falling asleep. To top it all off, before the awakening shudder, many people feel an extremely unpleasant feeling of a rapid fall, which can be very frightening in a half-asleep state. Such trembling occurs for various reasons and cannot be regarded as a disease. It is most correct to consider this phenomenon as a physiological reaction of the body to any natural stimuli, of which there turned out to be too many. Even people who always fall asleep quickly and easily experience such a sharp awakening start from time to time. If it occurs, a visit to the doctor is not required, but only if there are no other negative manifestations from the body.

Opinions of popular doctors

One of the hosts of the “Live Healthy” program, Dmitry Shubin, claims that if night twitching is not permanent, then there is no reason to worry. The doctor recommends ventilating the room well and taking a relaxing shower before going to bed. If anxiety increases and muscle contractions interfere with normal rest, you should consult a specialist. Only a personal visit to a doctor will give a complete assessment of your health status.

Dr. Alexander Myasnikov points out that taking certain medications, especially those that reduce blood pressure, provokes leg cramps. The patient can follow doctors' orders, relax himself with folk remedies, but continue to take the medicine. The most common cause of nighttime discomfort is hydrochlorothiazide, which is included in medications for the treatment of hypertension. The doctor advises you to reconsider the medications you are using if you have night tremors.

Children's pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky has a negative attitude towards night shudders and urges parents not to let their guard down. If you have any suspicion, you should consult a doctor and do not prescribe medications yourself. If such symptoms in a child at night are episodic, then the regimen should be reconsidered. Active games should not be played in the evening. A warm bath and a relaxing massage will help your baby fall asleep soundly and prevent nighttime shudders.

Why does a child sweat while sleeping?

To determine the reason why a person twitches when falling asleep, you must first visit a doctor and undergo an examination. A specialist will help rule out neuropsychiatric diseases that can provoke these symptoms. They may require drug therapy.

If myoclonic spasms occur due to mental causes (nervous breakdown, prolonged stress, chronic lack of sleep), the doctor may recommend a course of sedatives. Without contacting a specialist, you can take tinctures of valerian and motherwort at night, which have a sedative and mild hypnotic effect.

Myoclonic convulsions in a child during sleep are divided into physiological (normal) and pathological. The reason for shuddering when falling asleep in infants is the adequate functioning and development of the brain.

The fact is that the sleep of young children is significantly different from that of an adult. Their deep sleep phase is 2 times shorter than that of a normally functioning, healthy adult. The baby twitches when falling asleep and later almost constantly due to the fact that his sleep phases change faster and his brain activity changes all the time.

Parents should not worry if their child shudders when falling asleep. This is a natural process. But if some other pathological phenomena are added to these movements (for example, cramps during the day), the baby must be examined.

Some children sweat a lot during deep sleep, causing them to wake up wet. During the deep sleep phase, the child's body recovers and prepares for the new day. Night sweats are usually not a cause for concern.

Make sure your child sleeps comfortably. Pack him in light cotton clothing and keep the room cool.

If your child snores or has pauses in breathing during sleep combined with sweating, you should see a doctor, as this may be a sign of sleep apnea.

Is treatment necessary?

If we are talking about rare shudders of the torso or limbs when falling asleep, then in most cases no treatment is required. To normalize sleep and prevent excessive muscle activity, you can do the following:

You must always go to bed and get up at the same time;
fall asleep no later than 22:00;
do not drink stimulating drinks (coffee, energy drinks, alcohol) at night;
if you have severe problems falling asleep, you can use mild herbal sleeping pills (for example, Novo-Passit);
A warm bath before bed is very relaxing and stimulates blood circulation;
Eating dairy products, vegetables, and herbs (especially parsley and dill) will help replenish your supply of microelements;
in case of severe myoclonus, strong tonic drinks (tea, coffee) must be replaced with berries, fruit compotes, herbal teas;
Regular physical activity helps fight cramps;
in some cases, to prevent myoclonus, you can take a course of sedatives.

Before buying any medications, you should definitely check with a doctor! This will help to promptly identify diseases of the brain and other systems. Only after a complete examination and exclusion of serious pathologies will the doctor be able to prescribe suitable sedatives.

Treatment of pathological myoclonus is carried out only under the guidance of a psychotherapist. In some cases - a psychiatrist. For therapy, drugs such as Konvulex, Clonazepam, Apilepsin, etc. are used. All of them are prescribed individually and are sold in pharmacies exclusively by prescription.

When to see a doctor?

If the startle in the initial phase of sleep is not constant, has a clear connection with emotional experiences, nervous overload, and does not lead to insomnia and disability, then you can try to cope with it yourself. The main thing here is maintaining well-being and the possibility of proper rest.

If there are frequent, repeated muscle twitches that prevent you from falling asleep, it is necessary to record in your memory the accompanying symptoms (sweating, tachycardia, a feeling of “failure”).

Insomnia has a serious impact on health and provokes any problems and latent course of diseases (hypertension, disruption of the functions of the digestive organs).

Severe nocturnal myoclonus cannot be tolerated for a long time. Perhaps the sign is one of the symptoms of the disease. Contacting a neurologist will help with timely diagnosis and targeted treatment. In regional centers it is worth looking for departments for the treatment of sleep disorders. Sleep doctors will conduct studies of brain activity and prescribe optimal therapy.