Research indicates that about 70% of people may experience body tremors while they sleep. What are the causes of the body shaking during sleep?
Everything you need to know about the causes of the body shaking during sleep in the following lines:
Causes of body tremors during sleep
Sudden body tremors during sleep usually occur as a result of sudden, involuntary, and strong muscle contraction.
Although the most common condition is a whole-body tremor, it may affect only parts of the body, such as an arm or leg, and in some cases a person may make a sharp sound or scream.
Also, the vibration of the body during sleep may cause a person to wake up from his sleep, and these sudden movements are then associated with a rapid mental image.
It is as if you feel that you are falling from a high place, and it is believed that the movements occur first, perhaps due to an electrical discharge that occurs along the nerves of the body, and then the brain fabricates a story to explain the movement through mental images.
There is still no clear reason for the occurrence of these tremors, and studies on this phenomenon are limited, but there are some theories, and the following are some possible explanations for the causes of body tremors during sleep:
- Anxiety and stress
A lifestyle full of stress or high anxiety makes it difficult to relax when preparing for sleep, because anxiety and stress keep the mind in an alert state.
This may cause the brain to send alert signals during sleep, which may lead to the body shaking.
- Steroids
Caffeine and nicotine can affect the body’s ability to fall asleep normally or its ability to stay asleep.
These chemicals present may prevent your brain from reaching a deep sleep state, and disturb it from time to time.
- Exercise
It is known that exercising stimulates and activates the body, but doing it late in the evening may make the body have difficulty relaxing when it is time to sleep.
This excessive stimulation may lead to sudden tremors when falling asleep.
- Bad sleeping habits
Irregular sleep patterns, sleep deprivation, or sleep disorders in general may be causes of body twitching during sleep.
Preventing body tremors during sleep
Having discussed the most important causes of body tremors during sleep, we must now discuss preventive methods to reduce these cases.
Body tremors during sleep are normal and common, and their occurrence does not mean that a person has an underlying medical problem, but some lifestyle changes can help reduce the number of attacks he may experience.
Here are some tips to prevent this from happening:
- Avoid caffeine
Caffeine sources can help a person wake up in the morning, but consuming it late in the day can overstimulate the body and brain.
This can lead to sleep disturbances, so you should reduce your caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening.
- Avoid exercising late at night
Exercise is vital, but excessive physical stimulation near bedtime can increase the risk of muscle cramps. Instead, exercise early in the day, as this gives the body plenty of time to relax before bed.
