| json_metadata | "{"app":"Musing","appTags":["Sleeping"],"appCategory":"Sleeping","appTitle":"What is sleep paralysis?","appBody":"<p>Sleep paralysis, popularly known as 'the rise of the dead', among other names, is a parasomnia that prevents the person from moving or speaking despite being awake, and can cause hallucinations.</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>Sleep paralysis is a type of parasomnia that is characterized by the inability to perform movements or speak despite being awake and aware, which often generates anguish and fear to those affected. The paralysis can occur either when the person is about to fall asleep, or upon awakening, and generally its duration varies from just a few seconds to several minutes. In addition, these episodes can be accompanied by very vivid hallucinations that terrify the one who experiences them.</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>So much so, that sleep paralysis is also known as the rise of the dead (Mexico and other countries in Latin America), nocturnal witch syndrome (Europe), Pisadeira (Brazil), Djinn in some Islamic countries, and even Dolores Redondo, in his famous mystery novels of the Baztan Trilogy, refers to Inguma, a demon that immobilizes those who sleep, snatching their breath and vital energy during sleep.</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>And is that in all the legends mentioned, and other similar that are repeated with this theme throughout the world, we talk about beings who lean or sit on the sleeper, oppressing his chest, preventing it from moving, and even causing difficulties for breathe. They are stories passed down from generation to generation, which try to give a supernatural explanation to the paralysis of the dream that is accompanied by visions, called hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations, and which are sometimes scary.</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>Why sleep paralysis occurs</p>\n<p>Myths and legends aside, sleep paralysis is closely linked to the physiological process that occurs during the REM phase of sleep. It is in this stage that we dream, and precisely to avoid damaging ourselves when trying to put into practice what we are experiencing in dreams, a mechanism known as muscular atony is activated, which prevents muscular movements (with the exception of the diaphragm and muscles of the eyes). However, if the person wakes up while their brain remains in REM state, body paralysis is maintained, and even the individual may have hallucinations, which he believes he is seeing with his own eyes, even though they are only in his mind.</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>Sleep paralysis is closely linked to the physiological process that occurs during the REM phase of sleep</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>sleep paralysis has nothing to do with paranormal phenomena or astral travel, and is frequently suffered by people who do not get enough sleep and, especially, those with a bad quality of rest, or who go through a stage of their life in which they do not sleep well. For example, students in exam period, a bride who is preparing her wedding, people who work shifts or do night shifts, as is the case of health personnel ... This expert adds that it is also a common problem in patients with narcolepsy , but that does not suppose a danger for the health, neither has a specific treatment, except to control the factor that can be provoking it.</p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>Sleep paralysis</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>One of the explanations attributed to visions or hallucinations is that they may be the result of an evolutionary response to danger, which would encourage the paralyzed body to move in the presence of threatening elements or presences. Even the difficulty to breathe that some people experience, and that can be interpreted by the brain as the action of an evil entity that presses the chest, triggers the panic that impels the individual to react and end the paralysis.</p>\n<p>Tips to prevent sleep paralysis</p>\n<p>When it comes to isolated episodes of sleep paralysis, and once the individual understands that what happens to him is not paranormal or dangerous, it is not usually given more importance, but to avoid the inconvenience that can cause it is possible to adopt a series of measures that, in addition to preventing this parasomnia, will help you sleep better:</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Sleeping enough hours, without interruptions, is one of the main measures that will help prevent sleep paralysis. It is necessary to establish a regular schedule of rest, and other measures that help to conciliate and maintain sleep. If you suffer insomnia, or other sleep disorders, you should consult a specialist, and not self-medicate.</p>\n<p>Controlling stress. Being subjected to high levels of stress in a prolonged way can cause this disorder, or aggravate it.</p>\n<p>Do not consume products that contain exciting substances, such as caffeine, from hours before bedtime.</p>\n<p>Exercise regularly, but do it at least three hours before going to sleep.</p>\n<p>Try to detect what may be the factors that lead to paralysis in your specific case, and avoid them. For example, this phenomenon is easier to occur if you sleep on your back, so if that is your habit, you should try to sleep on your side, or face down.</p>\n<p>Gather as much information as possible about the characteristics of the episode (if it happens before you fall asleep, or just wake up, how long it lasts, in what position you slept, what similar circumstances concur ...), to be able to explain it to the doctor if you finally decide to consult with a doctor. specialist.</p>\n<p>Treatment of narcolepsy. Sleep paralysis can be one of the symptoms of this disease, so its correct treatment is key to reduce or avoid these episodes.</p>","appDepth":2,"appParentPermlink":"pkyre2clx","appParentAuthor":"mrspablo","musingAppId":"aU2p3C3a8N","musingAppVersion":"1.1","musingPostType":"answer"}" |
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