Dr. Kumar explains hypnic tremors, a common condition that occurs during sleep and resembles a fall. They are usually harmless but require medical advice if frequent or severe.
Have you ever woken up because you felt like you were falling? There is a name for this feeling, and Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, explained what it is called in a post he shared on X on February 18.
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“Have you ever felt like you’re falling…as you’re about to fall asleep, and your body suddenly shakes? That sudden ‘shock’ that wakes you up? It’s called a sleep jerk (also known as sleep onset). No, it doesn’t usually mean there’s something wrong with your brain,” Dr. Sudhir explained in the post.
The neurologist also explained everything you need to know about this phenomenon, including when sleep jerks occur, how they can be described, whether they are normal at all, when you should worry about them, whether you should take medications, how to reduce them, and more.
Everything you should know about sleep tremors
According to the neurologist, patients describe sleep jolts with the following statements: “I feel like I’m falling off a cliff,” “I suddenly kick my legs,” “I feel an electric shock,” “I wake up with a jolt and I’m drifting off,” and “Sometimes I see a flash or hear a pop.”“
He also added that sleep tremors may involve “a sudden tremor of the extremities (often the legs), a tremor of the whole body, and a rapid heartbeat for a brief period afterwards (of surprise).”According to him, the sensation lasts less than a second.
When sleep tremors occur, Dr. Sudhir explained that they occur during the first stage of sleep – the transition from wakefulness to sleep. He further explained, “This is the lightest stage of sleep, when your brain waves begin to slow, muscles relax, conscious awareness fades, and your mind and body switch ‘modes.’ Sometimes, this switch fails, and you get a shiver. Think of it as a glitch during a shutdown.”
Is sleep twitching a normal phenomenon?
“Yes. In most cases, it is completely normal. Dr. Sudhir noted that up to 60 to 70% of people suffer from hypnagogic tremors at some point. They are considered a physiological phenomenon and not a disease.” He stressed that this does not mean epilepsy, brain tumor, Parkinson’s disease, or vitamin deficiency. “If it happens occasionally, it’s benign,” he added.
But when should you worry about them? According to your neurologist, you should see a doctor when tremors occur several times at night, gradually worsen, you feel sleepy during the day, there are rhythmic tremors throughout sleep, and there is confusion, biting the tongue, or loss of consciousness (to rule out seizures). Otherwise, you have no reason to panic.
Medicine and treatment
Regarding whether tests and medications are needed to treat this condition, he explained: “In the case of typical sleep tremors, no tests are needed. No MRI, no EEG, no blood tests. A clinical history is sufficient. Overprobing often increases anxiety, which actually worsens the tremors.”
He added: “In most people, no medication is needed. If the condition is severe and causes sleep disturbance, doctors may rarely use low-dose clonazepam (in the short term), but this is uncommon. Treat the trigger, not the twitch.”
Finally, the neurologist explained what increases sleep tremors, stressing that they are more common in:
- Sleep deprivation
- Stress and anxiety
- Caffeine (especially in the evening)
- Nicotine
- Intense exercise late at night
- Excessive screen exposure before bed
“In short: the wired brain struggles to ‘turn off the power,'” he noted. As for ways to reduce sleep tremors, he suggested some evidence-based strategies, including “sleep hygiene, consistent sleep timing in a cool, dark room, no screen use 60 minutes before bed, cutting out caffeine after 2 p.m., relaxation rituals such as reading, breathing exercises, light stretching, stress management, mindfulness, journaling, cognitive behavioral therapy if anxiety is prominent, regular exercise (but not late at night), and avoiding scrolling in bed.”“
According to him, your brain needs a soft landing, not a crash landing. So, although sleep tremors are common, harmless, short-lived, and not a neurological disease, the real culprit is often “the modern lifestyle, not your nervous system.” If this happens to you, you are normal. “Sleep in peace.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified these claims and does not endorse them.
Krishna Priya Pallavi is Associate Editor of Hindustan Times with nearly 9 years of experience in lifestyle reporting. Over the years, Pallavi has reported extensively on health, fashion, pop culture, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, culture, fitness, sex and relationships. She is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC Dhenkanal) and also holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Before joining Hindustan Times, she spent nearly three years with India Today and a year and a half with ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, Vagabomb. Pallavi enjoys tracking global fashion trends, interviewing celebrities, following global fashion seasons, and keeping up with popular culture – interests that often turn into engaging articles. In addition, she is keen on reading poignant health stories. She regularly collaborates with clinicians, designers, and content creators to craft narratives with depth and perspective. Born and brought up in Haryana, her heart remains deeply connected to her ancestral home in Odisha. She has a knack for finding interesting angles where they don’t seem to exist. When she’s not chasing stories, she spends her free time enjoying playing with her dog, planning her next vacation, or discovering new destinations.Read more
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