What are the causes of carotid paralysis? The condition may occur unexpectedly. It causes fear and a sense of horror in people of different ages. Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder in which a person cannot move or speak. This condition can occur due to the influence of many factors on the human body. If the therapy is carried out correctly, then you can return to a full healthy sleep as soon as possible. Only after a thorough medical examination is a doctor able to determine the true causes of this ailment.
Key Information
Sleep paralysis - what is it? The cause of the appearance can be found at home? Carotid paralysis is a sleep disorder that is characterized by impaired muscle function. This condition can occur up to 4 times per night, while a person feels fear, there is a visual or auditory hallucination. Paralysis does not threaten the patient's life. The pathological condition is due to an imbalance between the functioning of the brain and muscle function. Only the attending physician can identify the main cause of sleep disturbance.
Symptoms of the phenomenon
If one of the signs of sleep paralysis syndrome appears, it is important to consult a doctor. The use of alternative methods of therapy can only do harm. After a thorough medical examination, the doctor is able to determine the cause of the pathology. Such a disorder is often confused with narcolepsy and other mental disorders.
In frequent cases, carotid paralysis occurs when falling asleep and during the active phase of sleep. What are the symptoms and causes of sleep paralysis? When this phenomenon occurs, the following symptoms occur:
- a person actively moves his eyes and cannot move;
- an attack of suffocation develops;
- you feel pressure in the chest area, as if someone has become on it;
- there is a visual auditory hallucination, a feeling that someone is present nearby;
- panic feeling of fear.
If one of the symptoms occurs, it is important to seek help from the attending physician, since this condition prevents a person from fully resting at night and causes great discomfort.
What are the reasons for this?
What are the causes of carotid paralysis? Doctors say sleep paralysis is a type of natural biological process. This phenomenon occurs due to an imbalance in the functioning of the motor apparatus and consciousness. The main reason is disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. Most often, a problem arises in the phase of active sleep, in which a person relaxes. If the muscles relax until the brain falls asleep, it will lead to paralysis. In frequent cases, this problem occurs in young people, but can be diagnosed at any age. As medical practice shows, due to a genetic predisposition, such a violation can occur. What are the most common causes of sleep paralysis? Among the most common causes of sleep paralysis are:
- Psychiatric disorder.
- Systematic stresses.
- Neurosis is one of the main causes of carotid paralysis in women.
- Taking an antidepressant.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Moving to another country.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Overwork.
To reduce the risk of sleep paralysis, it is recommended to have a good rest, eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle, not be nervous and not worry about nothing. If one of the symptoms appears, you need to seek help from a specialist.
The main varieties
Many people know what causes sleep paralysis, but not everyone knows its types. There are several types of carotid paralysis. These include:
- Hypnagogic, or semi-conscious, occurs in the process of falling asleep, when the body goes into sleep mode and muscle tissue relaxes. If the muscles have relaxed, but the consciousness has not shut off, the person is on the verge of rest and wakefulness, while there is no opportunity to move. Under such conditions, a person does not understand why this condition arose, because of this a feeling of fear and panic appears.
- Hypnopompic paralysis occurs a few seconds before waking up, if in the phase of active sleep the muscular system is relaxed or almost disconnected, and brain activity is increased. If at this time the area of the brain that controls the consciousness wakes up, and the muscles are still sleeping, the person understands and evaluates the situation around, but cannot move.
This phenomenon can last several minutes. To overcome the state is unrealistic.
Is this a health hazard?
Sleep paralysis - what is it? Can you find out the cause of the appearance yourself? Night paralysis is a biological process that can occur due to disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. Only the doctor can identify the factor that provokes the appearance of such a condition. Experts say that a sleep attack is not dangerous for a person’s life, but nevertheless the problem should be solved, since it affects the physical and mental health of the patient. Is sleep paralysis dangerous? A negative consequence can manifest itself in the form of:
- severe fright, which provokes respiratory spasms and disrupts the cardiovascular system;
- mental health may be impaired for the reason that the person did not realize what is happening around.
Are complications possible? When one of the symptoms of sleep paralysis occurs, a person panics and fears for his life, but you should know that there is no threat to health. After a few minutes, the person’s breathing, heartbeat and general well-being are restored. If the pathology is regularly manifested, then this prevents the person from fully resting. Under such conditions, it is recommended to carry out a thorough medical examination and start therapy. Due to the frequent night stupor, a person may experience chronic neurosis.
Why should sleep paralysis be treated? Mental and nervous disorders due to lack of sleep prevent a full and healthy lifestyle. It is important to understand the problem and not focus on it. The unpleasant feeling will go away after a few minutes, and there is no need to be afraid that you have serious health problems. If you move your limbs, then this can help to quickly get out of the stupor. Most often, negative consequences arise in the person who is strongly obsessed with what happened. It is not necessary to connect such a phenomenon with otherworldly forces or various diseases - in connection with this, disturbances with sleep can occur. Why is sleep paralysis dangerous? Because of fear of reliving paralysis, a patient often has a psychological problem. Under such conditions, complications occur in the form of:
- tachycardia;
- difficulty breathing;
- hallucinations of visual and auditory type;
- panic fear.
If a person often has sleep paralysis, it is recommended to visit a psychologist.
Is it possible to cause such a phenomenon?
Despite the fact that many people are afraid of sleep paralysis, there are those who are interested in falling into this state and experiencing an out-of-body experience. In frequent cases, people who are interested in esotericism try to cause such a violation.
There are several ways to stimulate an attack. Namely:
- Lie on your back and remove the pillow from under your head. You must try to sleep. In the process of falling asleep, we analyze the sounds that change around the body.
- You need to relax as much as possible after a hard and tiring day, drink strong coffee and go to bed. The body will relax, and coffee will provoke excessive brain activity. For this reason, this phenomenon arises.
- Before going to bed, you must imagine a sense of flying. To do this, relax the muscles. When the necessary sensation is achieved, it can cause sleepy paralysis.
Doctors do not recommend conducting experiments on their health, as this can provoke the development of other problems.
Diagnosis
Sleep paralysis - what is it? The causes and treatment of this condition should be discussed with your doctor. Despite the fact that this is a biological condition that does not harm health, it is important to find out the cause of the violation. If a problem occurs regularly, it is important to contact a qualified professional. Neurologist and somnologist will help to find out the cause of this phenomenon. Initially, the doctor analyzes the symptoms that cause discomfort to the patient and disturb sleep, cause chronic fatigue and lack of sleep. Based on the data received, the healthcare provider prescribes the appropriate treatment. The patient needs to record all his feelings during therapy. Among the main research methods of the problem are:
- polls
- test;
- the study of patient complaints;
- assessment of the symptoms of the syndrome;
- polysomnography;
- study of average sleep latency;
- neurological, psychological diagnosis.
Only a doctor can find out the cause of sleep paralysis. An explanation of this phenomenon should be based on the results of the patient’s study. It is not recommended to use alternative methods of therapy, since self-medication can provoke the development of other diseases. Do not underestimate herbs and infusions, as they have exactly the same powerful effect as antibiotics.
Therapies
So, a person has sleepy paralysis. How to get rid of a problem? If any phase of sleep is disturbed, this does not indicate that pathology is present, but still doctors recommend eliminating the problem, since this can provoke the development of health complications. Such a pathology is not amenable to conservative treatment and is able to go into a chronic form of the course. In the process of therapy, it is important:
- normalize the regime of the day;
- exercise regularly;
- eliminate muscle weakness;
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- ventilate the room before going to bed;
- take a bath in order to relax;
- take vitamins;
- normalize nutrition;
- treat chronic diseases;
- Do not be nervous, stress is one of the most common causes of carotid paralysis in women.
Doctors do not recommend being nervous about trifles and thinking about problems before going to bed, as this can provoke the occurrence of sleep paralysis.
Drug treatment
If there is a violation between brain and muscle activity, you must visit a doctor. Experts do not qualify such a phenomenon as a disease, so there is no special medication that will help cure sleep paralysis. First of all, the specialist must eliminate the cause of the violation. The healthcare provider prescribes medications to the patient that improve the process of falling asleep and strengthen sleep. What is used:
- With the help of "Melatonin" you can overcome insomnia. The drug stabilizes blood pressure and positively affects the protective function of the body. It is necessary to take a few hours before bedtime. During treatment with "Melatonin" there are no adverse reactions. The only negative of the drug is the ban on the treatment of children under 11 years of age. It is not recommended to carry out treatment during the period of carrying the baby and breastfeeding.
- With the help of "Vita-melatonin" you can restore the hormonal background of a person, as a result of which the production of serotonin increases, stress resistance improves, physical and mental performance is stimulated. The only drawback of the drug is that it can not be taken systematically. In the course of therapy, the gastrointestinal tract may be disturbed and allergies may appear.
- "Neurostabil" is a herbal preparation that calms and strengthens the immune system. Assign to those people who have a systematic night stupor. Thanks to the healing composition, the body's resistance to stress is increased. The advantage of the drug is a harmless composition, the absence of a side effect.
Before using any drug, it is important to consult a specialist, as self-medication can provoke the development of complications. Only after a thorough medical diagnosis will the doctor make a diagnosis and prescribe the treatment that will help solve the problem. The causes and treatment of carotid paralysis should be discussed with a neurologist and psychotherapist.
Vitamin intake
A healthy lifestyle is the foundation of good health and well-being. Due to the frequent night stupor, the protective function of the body decreases, this phenomenon negatively affects the overall well-being of the patient. With the help of vitamins, you can strengthen the immune system and prevent the development of many diseases. The main vitamins that the body needs are:
- Vitamin A will provide a full and healthy sleep. It is recommended to include hard cheese, dried fruits, egg whites and butter in the diet.
- Group B vitamins will increase stress resistance and restore brain function, eliminate chronic fatigue, and normalize sleep. You should regularly eat milk, seaweed, potatoes, nuts, and liver.
- Ascorbic acid stimulates the production of anti-stress hormone. Spinach, sweet peppers, berries and tomatoes have a positive effect on the well-being of the patient and strengthen sleep.
- Vitamin D helps to fully relax and eliminates fatigue. A person receives this element through the rays of the sun and from sunflower oil and sea fish.
- Vitamin E has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain, improves overall well-being. You can get a vitamin from seeds, vegetable oil, nuts.
Due to a lack of magnesium, insomnia occurs. To make up for the item, you must include vegetables, nuts, and legumes in the menu. Proper nutrition not only normalizes sleep, but also strengthens the protective function of the body.
Preventative measures
To prevent the occurrence of sleeping paralysis, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of specialists, namely:
- eat properly and balanced;
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- do not overwork;
- do sport;
- do not abuse drugs;
- do not watch bedtime thrillers and horrors;
- more often walk in the fresh air.
If you follow all the advice of specialists, then you can reduce the risk of paralysis to a minimum. It is equally important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, since the general state of the patient's health completely affects the quality of sleep. In the presence of psychological disorders, sleep paralysis may occur. In this case, it is advisable to visit a psychologist - this will not be superfluous. At a time when a person is experiencing difficulties, psychological problems may arise. Only specialists will help to figure out their inner world.