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!