{"id":146,"date":"2019-11-07T22:12:05","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T22:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-386983-1216903.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=146"},"modified":"2024-03-31T09:57:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-31T16:57:50","slug":"sleep-paralysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthysleep.org\/sleep-disorders\/sleep-paralysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep Paralysis: Causes & Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have ever woken up but were unable to move, saw shadows, or felt something heavy on your chest that seemed like it was holding you down, you have likely experienced sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

The experience can be frightening, and it can feel like it lasts for several minutes. Despite this feeling, the condition will go away in a few seconds, as your brain completes the process of waking up and restores movement to your body.<\/p>\n

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  1. Sleep paralysis may occur in anyone, regardless of gender or age, but there are a few conditions that make it more likely.<\/li>\n
  2. Research shows that sleep paralysis has a genetic component. People who experience the condition several times have close family members.<\/li>\n
  3. Situations that cause stress and sleep loss are also associated with an increased risk of sleep paralysis.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How Can Sleep Paralysis Be Prevented?<\/h2>\n

    Generally, your brain will paralyze your body while you sleep so you do not act out your dreams as you enter deep, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM stages of sleep. When you wake up as normal, your brain restores movement to your body as your consciousness returns. If you snap awake out of deep sleep or a dream, it is possible that your brain has not completely restored the connection to move again.<\/p>\n

    For the most part, sleep paralysis is a random occurrence that will happen on rare occasions in your life. Some people are more prone to experiencing it than others due to genetic factors, sleep deprivation, age, and underlying medical conditions.<\/p>\n

    If you routinely experience sleep paralysis, there are approaches to preventing it or reducing how often you experience it. If you understand how to recognize sleep paralysis, it can help you to relax for a few seconds until it passes.<\/p>\n

    For the most part, sleep paralysis is a random occurrence that will happen on rare occasions in your life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Risk Factors for Sleep Paralysis<\/h2>\n

    Sleep paralysis may occur in anyone, regardless of gender or age, but there are a few conditions that make it more likely.<\/p>\n

    Research shows that sleep paralysis has a genetic component. People who experience the condition several times have close family members who also regularly experience sleep paralysis. Situations that cause stress and sleep loss are also associated with an increased risk of sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

    The most common contributors to the condition include:<\/p>\n