Why are you startled while sleeping?

This is an automatically translated article.

1. Does being startled while sleeping have any effect? When you are sleeping, startle is a condition in which you are sleeping when you startle, accompanied by feelings of anxiety and fear during sleep. If there are too many startles while sleeping, it will reduce the quality of sleep, thereby causing many health problems such as fatigue and sleepiness later.
Sleep apnea is not considered a disease or disorder of the nervous system, it is a seizure that occurs suddenly, often during the beginning of sleep. This situation is more likely to happen when we fall asleep too quickly. Normally, the heart rate as well as the breathing rate usually decrease to fall asleep, but the body is too tired to reduce the heart rate, this breathing rate happens very quickly. Since then, the brain has responded with a startle that causes a state of being startled when sleeping.
The degree of sleep startle is different for each person, some people have it very lightly and can't detect it, but some people have it very badly, affecting sleep later, maybe even losing it sleep at midnight.

2. Why are you startled while sleeping? The cause of waking up from sleep is still not fully understood. Some studies hypothesize the following factors that are believed to be related to the phenomenon of startling sleep:
Improper sleeping position: When the sleeping position is wrong, the brain will be able to recognize it. and assume that there is a danger to the body, so we cannot go into deep sleep and have seizures afterward. Stress: The state of overwork and study will make us fall into a state of anxiety and stress. This will be transmitted to the brain causing the startle state of sleep. Drink caffeine-containing beverages: Coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages will make some people sleepless and tired, which will make it easier to wake up when sleeping. Eating a lot of greasy foods or alcoholic beverages, gas also makes it harder for the body to fall asleep, causing a sudden startle when sleeping. The body lacks calcium: If the body is not supplied with enough calcium, the nervous system - muscles will have many disorders when working, so it will cause the muscles to contract more often when sleeping, as well as the nerves to work. more causes startles to appear. Lack of some other substances such as magnesium, B12 also causes this condition.

3. Preventing a sleeping state of being startled Some methods can be applied at home to avoid convulsions during sleep:
Sleep 7 to 9 hours a day, sleep and wake up at the same time. Do not exercise about 6 hours before going to bed. Relax before going to sleep by: taking a hot bath, massage, reading... Sleeping in the correct position recommended by doctors is lying on your side or on your back. Choose the right bedroom space in terms of light, mattress material... Limit drinking carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffeine before sleeping. Keep a relaxed, low-stress mood before going to bed. Provide all necessary vitamins and minerals such as B12, calcium, and magnesium in the daily menu. Limit eating fatty foods, instead maintain a diet rich in fiber and fruits. The state of being startled sleeping is not uncommon and can often affect the patient's quality of life. If positive lifestyle changes but still do not improve, the patient should go to the hospital to be examined, diagnosed and more accurately find the reason why sleeping is startled.
Follow Vinmec International General Hospital website to get more health, nutrition and beauty information to protect the health of yourself and your loved ones in your family.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.