2006-10-27 08:08:26 · 7 answers · asked by temptingreeta 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
hypnic jerks: http://www.binghamton.edu/inside/inthenews/nov-dec/18nov04ask.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk
2006-10-27 09:11:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be a symptom of Restless leg (or limb) syndrome.
As a one time event it is usually caused by an interruption in the normal paralysis that your body induces while in REM sleep.
If not you would be acting out your dreams.
It is refered to as a hypnagogic jerk.
It has been suggested that the specific sensation of jerking awake when the body thinks it is falling is left over from when our ancestors lived in and slept in tree.
2006-10-27 08:22:00 · answer #2 · answered by dj_gratis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sometimes happens when you are over tired...like extremely exhausted. It's caused when you're brain is still awake enough to cause your muscles to contract but asleep enough that you don't really wake up wake up.
It's not sleep apnea like one person above me stated. When you stop breathing for an amount of time while sleeping is what Sleep Apnea is. My father has it and he will jump awake but that happens when he starts breathing again. Just a couple weeks ago he had an episode with it and stopped breathing for like 5 minutes. To determine whether you have sleep apnea, your doctors will set you up with a sleeping monitor to monitor your sleeping patterns. They will also send you home with a blood pressure machine and instructions to take your blood pressure periodically through out the day for a week or so. Many people who suffer from sleep apnea are over weight or have snoring problems. They may also talk in their sleep.
2006-10-27 08:22:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is a disease call narcolepsy but they don't just jerk awake, those that jerk awake are usually just over tired from no sleep
2006-10-27 08:12:05 · answer #4 · answered by Abby 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's sometimes caused by Sleep A Pneu (when you've stopped breathing in your sleep). But I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for.
2006-10-27 08:21:15 · answer #5 · answered by Endie vB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is just a reflex. I do that sometimes and I dont have to be "over tired" and I dont have sleep apnea.
2006-10-27 08:27:55 · answer #6 · answered by katybeth212001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A bad dream.
2006-10-27 08:10:24 · answer #7 · answered by BP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋