Dorothy FarrarSleep paralysis (sleep paralysis)
Sleep paralysis (sleep disorder) is often responsible for a significant impairment in everyday life. According to a recent survey, sleep paralysis in particular is perceived as extremely unpleasant.
What is sleep paralysis (sleep disorder)?
Sleep paralysis is a special form of sleep disorder. In modern medicine, sleep paralysis refers to the inability of a person to move during sleep. Sleep paralysis can occur both shortly before falling asleep and during falling asleep.
In most cases, the affected persons can no longer move for a period of several minutes. Sleep paralysis is often compared to a state of shock by those affected.
Causes
Sleep paralysis is particularly common in mentally ill persons. Thus, the occurrence of sleep paralysis can be favored by already existing anxiety. Depression can also trigger sleep paralysis.
However, sleep paralysis can also be based on an underlying physical disease. As a result, migraine is considered one of the most common causes of sleep paralysis. In addition to the causes already mentioned, according to the statements of leading physicians, other factors are possible as a possible cause.
Sleep paralysis may also appear as the result of a particularly stressful situation. Especially people from vulnerable occupational groups suffer from sleep paralysis again and again. However, the occurrence of sleep paralysis can also be favored by the behavior of the affected persons. According to a recent study, addicts suffer more frequently from sleep paralysis than people who actively influence their consumption of addictive substances.
Symptoms and course
If sleep paralysis occurs, the affected persons can no longer move unhindered. The musculature of the persons freezes almost completely. Only breathing can be influenced by the affected persons. Often a foul smell is noticed on the part of the affected persons as part of the inability to move.
To date, the causes of this symptom have not been clarified. In addition to the smell, the presence of strangers is also felt again and again. However, this feeling is in most cases a subjectively felt feeling.
The often felt feeling of tightness in the neck area is also a subjectively felt feeling. In order to prevent the sometimes serious consequences of sleep paralysis, it is necessary to examine the affected persons as quickly as possible.
Diagnosis
Since sleep paralysis must be clearly distinguished from other sleep disorders, a detailed survey of the affected patients is essential. For example, narcolepsy can be reliably diagnosed during the survey. Following the interview, it is not uncommon to order the creation of a special diary.
As a result of the records of the affected persons, the attending physician can get a detailed picture of the previous course of the disease. Alternatively, an examination in a sleep laboratory can be considered. Only the creation of a detailed diagnosis enables the targeted treatment of sleep paralysis.
Treatment and therapy
Leading physicians generally regard sleep paralysis as a non-negligible disease. For this reason, the affected persons must always be informed about the possible consequences of sleep paralysis. If sleep paralysis appears without symptoms, a simple educational discussion can be tackled.
Only when a clinical symptomatology becomes apparent, a special form of treatment must be performed. As part of the treatment, it is not uncommon for special drugs to be prescribed to treat sleep disorders. The drugs are primarily intended to release the blockages in the head of the affected persons. This is the only way to enable a trouble-free phase of falling asleep.
In addition, the affected persons should seek the conversation with an expert psychologist. An expert psychologist can often significantly reduce the anxiety associated with sleep paralysis. Basically, only the symptoms of sleep paralysis are treated as part of a therapy.
Prevention
The treatment measures mentioned so far can often effectively prevent sleep paralysis. However, in addition to the treatment methods, the quality of the nocturnal rest periods is also considered extremely important. For this reason, affected individuals should take into account relatively long periods of rest in their daily lives.
According to the statements of leading scientists, the human body needs a nocturnal rest period of up to nine hours. Stressful meals should not be consumed before the phase of falling asleep. In addition, addictive substances such as alcohol or nicotine should be banned from daily life. The sleeping position also plays an important role in preventing sleep paralysis. As a result, the affected persons should not lie on their backs.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.