A doctor has explained the reason why you suddenly jerk when falling asleep - and how you can stop it from happening. Taking to TikTok, Doctor Youn aka @doctoryoun shared with his almost nine million subscribers about the common occurrence. The doctor said it was called hypnic jerk and the startling reaction could cause quite the scare as we are trying to relax, but don't worry, it's nothing to panic about.
In his video which has been watched over two million times - and counting - the expert explains: "This is called a hypnic jerk, which is involuntary muscle contractions when you are falling asleep. One explanation is that when your muscles relax as you are falling asleep, your body interprets it as if you are falling." This would explain why, when this does happen, it does in fact feel like we are falling.
People often say that this feels as if they are falling from a great height - or tripping over something. He added: "One way to prevent it is to avoid caffeine or exercising several hours before you go to bed." According to sleepfoundation.
org : "Hypnic is short for hypnagogic, a word that describes the transition between wakefulness to sleep, which is when these jerks occur." The common sleeping contractions often only affect one side of the body, such as your left arm and left leg. Backing up what the expert says, the foundation also says that excess caffeine and too much exercise can contribute to this feeling.
It also explained that a lack of sleep, as well as stress.
