If there’s something that all human beings share, it’s the need to sleep. Problems with sleep or quirky habits are rather common with anyone going to an Orange County mattress store. Perhaps one of the most common phenomena is the sleep twitch. Imagine, lying in bed drifting into a deep slumber when, suddenly, you feel your muscles spasm just a little, creating a jolt of energy in your legs or arms. What in the world was that?

According to recent studies, hypnic jerks or hypnogogic jerks are experienced by seventy percent of people. Fortunately, there should be no cause for concern. These little sleep twitches that we notice every so often are normal and unharmful. The way that some doctors describe it, this phenomenon is similar to unplugging an electric cord and seeing a little spark. When our bodies transition into a restful state, it is natural for our muscles to experience some involuntary spasms. Experts at Mattress Sale Liquidators, one of the leading mattress stores in Orange County say that there are also some triggers that can make twitching during sleep more likely, including:

Anxiety/Stress

Our body is very sensitive to stress, which is why we can start to notice the consequences of having too much of it. Stress or anxiety can cause the brain to stay active while the body is trying to calm down at night. Hypnic jerks are commonly experienced for those with an excess of stress or anxiety because the activity of the mind transfers to the muscles. 

Stimulants

If you’ve ever felt jittery from too much coffee, then you know that caffeine can cause the body to shake involuntarily. It makes sense, then, that caffeine could also affect our sleep. Nicotine can have the same reaction. People who drink a lot of caffeinated beverages or smoke cigarettes can experience hypnic jerks when they go to sleep. 

Sleep Deprivation

This can work in the same way as stress and stimulants to make our bodies twitch. When we are deprived of sleep, our body produces an excess of adrenaline to keep us functioning properly. This adrenaline can cause anxiety and hypnic jerks when we finally lay down to rest. Mattress stores experts say that sleep deprivation is often a consequence of a lot of change. When people have a lot of distractions or things on their mind, it’s easy to lose out on sleep. 

So, now that you know how hypnic jerks are caused, you probably want to know how to alleviate them. For one, you shouldn’t stress about it. As they affect nearly 70 percent of the population, you are not alone. They will not harm you in any way. However, you can take some steps to minimize their chance of happening. Here are some things to try to soothe your hypnic jerk:

• Exercise regularly
• Have a relaxing bedtime routine
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine before bed
• Maintain a regular sleep cycle 
• Get a new mattress

If you’re suffering from hypnic jerks, then consider visiting Orange County mattress stores like Mattress Sale Liquidators to get a brand new innerspring. A high-quality, supportive mattress will help you fall asleep faster and get deep, restorative sleep.