Full story below 😳👇

Few things ruin a night’s sleep like jerking awake in panic — a sensation many experience, often linked to the feeling of falling. These are called hypnic jerks, or sleep starts: sudden muscle contractions that occur as you drift off.

According to the Sleep Foundation, hypnic jerks usually affect one side of the body and likely stem from the same brain area responsible for the startle response. Theories suggest the brain misinterprets muscle relaxation as falling, triggering a reflex.

Factors like caffeine, late-night exercise, emotional stress, and sleep deprivation may increase their likelihood. Though unsettling, hypnic jerks are common — up to 70% of people experience them — and they’re harmless.

To manage them, experts recommend improving sleep habits, reducing stress, limiting caffeine and nicotine, and exercising earlier in the day. While you can’t always prevent them, healthy routines can help reduce their frequency and intensity.