Almost everyone has experienced this feeling: you lie down in bed, are about to fall asleep, and suddenly your body jerks violently, as if you are falling. This phenomenon can be accompanied by panic, a rapid heartbeat, and even the thought that something is wrong with your health.
But Dr. Aamir Khan, known to British audiences from ITV's Lorraine, explained that this is a completely normal phenomenon. In medicine, it has a name - hypnic jerk.
According to the NHS, hypnic jerks, or “sleep starts”, are a natural reaction of the body as it falls asleep. They are often accompanied by a feeling of falling, an imaginary sound or even a flash of light. The whole body or individual parts, most often the legs, shake.
"When you fall asleep, your muscles relax, and the brain sometimes perceives it as falling. It instantly signals the body to 'catch' itself - and you shudder," explained Amir Khan.
According to him, scientists suggest that this may be an echo of an ancient survival reflex from the times when people slept in trees: a sharp jerk could save them from falling.
The doctor emphasized that hypnic jerks are safe. They occur more often if a person is overtired, stressed, or drinks caffeinated beverages before bed.
“The next time this happens, don’t worry — it’s a normal feature of how the brain works,” the doctor concluded.
In the comments under his video, people actively shared their own experiences. Some admitted that they sometimes even jump out of bed, others were surprised by how the brain "draws" mini-dreams about falling. Many admitted that the doctor's explanation calmed them down.
