We have all experienced it...you're sitting in bed, nodding off, and suddenly you awaken with a start feeling like you are about to fall down stairs. Hypnic myoclonus is estimated to affect as many as 60-70% of individuals, but what is it? In this episode we will:

Define hypnic myoclonus, often referred to as "sleep starts" or "hypnagogic jerks"
Review the symptoms of the phenomenon
Speculate of the evolutionary cause
Characterize individuals at the highest risk
List the causes of hypnic myoclonus
Discuss diagnostic and treatment options

Produced by: Maeve Winter

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The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!

#145 - Hypnic Myoclonus: Jerk Your Body