Causes & Risk Factors (Sleep)

Sleep Paralysis Causes and Risk Factors

Sleep paralysis is a common but often frightening experience where a person is temporarily unable to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up. It affects about 20% of people at least once in their lifetime, with some experiencing recurrent episodes . This condition occurs due to a disruption in the normal transition between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and wakefulness, leading to a temporary paralysis of voluntary muscles despite full conscious awareness . Understanding the causes and risk factors of sleep paralysis can help in managing and reducing its occurrence.