What Causes Hypnagogic Jerks?

Poor Sleep Routine Habits

Most often, hypnagogic jerks happen in stage one of sleep. As the first stage of sleep, it's the lightest one. The brain can confuse it for wakefulness, which makes it difficult to pinpoint when hypnagogic jerks happen. They can also happen later at night, but individuals are less likely to remember those. Regardless of the time they occur, they could be caused by poor sleep routine habits. As before, patients will need to stick to a consistent schedule, ensure they sleep long enough, and try to cut caffeine. Other sleep disorders can cause hypnagogic jerks, too, like obstructive sleep apnea. If these episodes occur often, patients need to speak with a doctor for evaluation. Generally speaking, however, they do not need to seek further treatment for hypnagogic jerks. Patients should only need to seek professional help if they cause complications, such as tongue biting, physical injury, or bedwetting.