Hypnic jerks or sleep starts are benign
Random hypnic jerks and twitches in sleep are completely normal and quite common. They usually don't indicate an underlying health issue and are simply muscle contraction during sleep that ranges from mild to intense.
Hypnic jerks are generally considered a normal part of falling asleep and do not typically require treatment. However, you may want to talk to your doctor if sleep starts are disrupting your sleep or causing anxiety.
It's important to realize that hypnic jerks are not a neurological disorder. Sleep starts are rarely a sign of any underlying condition. If you're experiencing hypnic jerks several times a day, you may want to reduce your caffeine intake,⁴ avoid alcoholic beverages, stimulating drugs, and not exercise right before bed.
Hypnic jerks occur during the transition from wakefulness into sleep, happen quickly, and are generally considered harmless. If you only experience hypnic jerks, you probably do not need to see a doctor. However, some symptoms similar to hypnic jerks may require medical attention.
These are completely normal and aren't the same as a myoclonic seizure. They are: Hypnic jerks: If you've ever had a sudden muscle twitch or spasm right as you were falling asleep, that was a hypnic jerk (the name comes from “hypnos,” the Greek word for “sleep”).
Anxiety and stress are two big causes of hypnic jerks because your mind and body will be in two different states. When the mind is over-anxious and can't shut off, but your body has relaxed into a sleep state, the misfiring of the brain occurs and you are more likely to get twitchy.
Treatment. There are ways to reduce hypnic jerks, including reducing consumption of stimulants such as nicotine or caffeine, avoiding physical exertion prior to sleep, and consuming sufficient magnesium. Some medication can also help to reduce or eliminate the hypnic jerks.
NREM Stage 1: Light Sleep
Muscle tone throughout the body relaxes and brain wave activity begins to slow from that of wake. Occasionally people may experience hypnic jerks or abrupt muscle spasms and may even experience sensation of falling while drifting in and out of Stage 1.
Opiates such as morphine, heroin and methadone have been reported to cause these jerks with regular frequency along with sudden jerking and waking during the night's sleep.
Sleep myoclonus causes involuntary muscle twitches during sleep or when a person falls asleep. In some cases, sleep myoclonus occurs on its own without an identifiable cause. Sleep myoclonus can also develop as a result of a sleep disorder or a neurological disorder.
The same phenomenon is called a hypnic jerk if it occurs upon awakening. For example, you might believe that you were falling. A leg movement may incite a fragmentary dream image that you were perhaps kicking a soccer ball.
A: Your husband's problem may be one of two syndromes: nocturnal myoclonus syndrome or restless legs syndrome. Myoclonus is the medical term for the sudden contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. This is a neuromuscular problem. It can happen anywhere, but is quite common in the legs.
A: For most patients, I recommend that if you're experiencing muscle twitches with no other symptoms, wait it out for few months. Usually, the twitching will stop on its own. If it doesn't stop, make an appointment to see me or another neurologist.
Muscle stiffness and spasms are common MS symptoms, and are often described as 'spasticity'.
Physiologic myoclonus involves quick muscle twitches followed by relaxation. Examples are hiccups and the jerks or “sleep starts” that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. This form occurs in healthy people, causes no difficulties, and does not require medical treatment.
Hypnic jerks occasionally occur during light sleep, causing a brief arousal. Fatigue, stress, and sleep deprivation may facilitate the occurrence of the hypnic jerks, which may be misdiagnosed as myoclonic seizures.
Sleep occurs in five stages: wake, N1, N2, N3, and REM. Stages N1 to N3 are considered non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, with each stage a progressively deeper sleep.
Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spinal tissues and enables your muscles to relax and recover.
These four sleep stages are called non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep, and its most prominent feature is the slow-wave (stage IV) sleep. It is most difficult to awaken people from slow-wave sleep; hence it is considered to be the deepest stage of sleep.