Ashwin Lewis
Waking up in a seated position could be due to parasomnias, a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions, and dreams. Parasomnias include unusual behaviours that disrupt sleep, such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, sleep paralysis, and nightmares. They can occur during any stage of sleep, including the transition from wakefulness to sleeping and vice versa. Some parasomnias are less common, such as sleep texting, sexsomnia, and sleep-related hallucinations. Waking up in a seated position can also be attributed to REM Behaviour Disorder (RBD), which causes individuals to act out dreams while they sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Parasomnias, which are sleep disorders that involve abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions, and dreams. |
| Other causes | REM Behaviour Disorder (RBD), Night Terrors, Sexsomnia, Sleep Bruxism, Sleep-related hallucinations, etc. |
| Risk | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a potentially fatal medical condition |
| Prevention | Recline your seat, drink plenty of fluids, and stand up and stretch when possible. |
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What You'll Learn
- Parasomnias, including night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep texting, and sleep-related hallucinations, can cause abrupt sitting up or screaming upon waking
- REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) may cause individuals to act out their dreams, leading to sitting up and other movements during sleep
- Sleeping upright may be comfortable for those with certain medical conditions, such as morbid obesity or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Sitting up while sleeping on a plane, train, or car ride can be challenging due to the body's natural loss of muscle tone during REM sleep
- While sleeping upright is generally safe, it can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially fatal condition caused by blood clots in the legs or thighs
Parasomnias, including night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep texting, and sleep-related hallucinations, can cause abrupt sitting up or screaming upon waking
Parasomnias are disruptive sleep disorders that cause abnormal behaviours or experiences during sleep. They can occur as you fall asleep, during sleep, or right before you wake up. Parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep talking, sleep texting, sleep-related hallucinations, confusional arousal, and night terrors.
Night terrors, also called sleep terrors, are parasomnias that cause sleepers to wake up abruptly feeling terrified and confused. They usually occur during deep sleep, within a few hours of falling asleep. People with night terrors may sit up, bolt out of bed, scream, cry, or display other uncontrollable body movements. They may also experience a racing heart rate, dilated pupils, rapid breathing, and sweating. Night terrors are more common in children, especially between ages 3 and 8, but they can occur at any age.
Sleepwalking is a parasomnia where individuals get out of bed and perform complex and seemingly purposeful activities while still asleep. Sleepwalkers may engage in behaviours they wouldn't normally do and may even perform complex activities such as driving or playing a musical instrument. Sleepwalking can be risky as the person is unaware of their surroundings and may injure themselves by falling or bumping into things. It tends to run in families, but it is not dangerous to wake a sleepwalker.
Confusional arousals, also known as excessive sleep inertia or sleep drunkenness, occur when individuals wake up from a deep sleep during the first part of the night. People experiencing confusional arousals may sit up, have their eyes open, or express emotions like crying. They may speak slowly or have trouble understanding what others are saying to them.
Sleep-related hallucinations and sleep texting are other parasomnias that can cause individuals to abruptly sit up or scream upon waking. While the specific causes of these parasomnias require further research, they can be disruptive and distressing for those who experience them.
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REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) may cause individuals to act out their dreams, leading to sitting up and other movements during sleep
REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia, or sleep disorder, that involves unusual and undesirable physical events or experiences that disrupt sleep. During REM sleep, the body typically experiences temporary paralysis of most of the body's muscles while the brain is active and dreaming. This allows us to dream quietly and safely throughout the night. However, for individuals with RBD, this paralysis does not occur during the REM stage, leading to the physical and/or vocal enactment of dreams while remaining asleep.
The movements involved in RBD can cause injury to oneself or one's bed partner, especially if acting out a violent nightmare. People with RBD may gesture, kick, punch, or grab the air or their bed partner, and even jump or fall out of bed. About 8 in 10 people with RBD experience sleep-related injuries, and almost half of those with the condition are unaware they have it. RBD is strongly associated with certain neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy.
The first REM cycle begins about 90 minutes after falling asleep and lasts for approximately 10 minutes. Subsequent REM cycles get longer, and the final hours of sleep, when dreams are most vivid, contain the most REM sleep. While RBD can occur at any age, it most commonly affects people over 50, with an average onset age of 61. Among those over 50, men are more likely than women to have RBD.
There are two main types of RBD: isolated (idiopathic) and symptomatic (secondary). Isolated RBD occurs spontaneously without an underlying cause, while symptomatic RBD is associated with other neurological conditions, such as narcolepsy or antidepressant use. If you suspect you may have RBD, it is important to seek treatment to prevent accidental injury to yourself or others.
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Sleeping upright may be comfortable for those with certain medical conditions, such as morbid obesity or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Sleeping in an upright position is a common practice in the animal kingdom, but humans often struggle with it due to the mechanics of our sleep cycles. During the fourth stage of the sleep cycle, known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, humans experience a loss of muscle tone, causing a temporary paralysis of the arms and legs. This temporary paralysis makes sleeping upright less comfortable than sleeping on your back, side, or stomach.
However, sleeping upright may be comfortable for those with certain medical conditions. For example, people with morbid obesity or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may find it easier to breathe and sleep while sitting up. Similarly, those with heart failure and fluid buildup in their lungs may benefit from sleeping upright. In addition, patients recovering from shoulder surgery may find it less painful to sleep in a recliner, as it is harder to roll over onto their side.
Sleeping upright can also be a temporary solution for those who struggle with sleep apnea. Positional therapy, which includes sleeping sitting up, can help reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea by lessening the effects of gravity on the upper airway. Nevertheless, sleeping upright does not benefit everyone with sleep apnea, and some may experience drawbacks.
It is important to note that sleeping upright for too long can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially fatal condition caused by blood clots in the legs. Therefore, those considering sleeping upright should consult with a doctor to discuss blood clot prevention and ensure they are taking the necessary measures to prevent DVT.
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Sitting up while sleeping on a plane, train, or car ride can be challenging due to the body's natural loss of muscle tone during REM sleep
Sleeping while sitting up is a common practice for many people, especially when napping on planes, trains, or during long car rides. However, it can be challenging to maintain this position during sleep due to the body's natural relaxation and loss of muscle tone during the REM stage of the sleep cycle.
During REM sleep, the body experiences temporary paralysis, which can make it difficult to remain sitting upright. This stage of sleep is crucial for cognitive function, and it is when the arms and legs become temporarily immobilized. As a result, sleeping upright can be less comfortable than sleeping on one's side, back, or stomach.
The challenges of sleeping upright are further compounded by the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a potentially fatal condition characterized by blood clots that form in the veins of the thighs or lower legs after prolonged periods of uninterrupted sitting. This risk is heightened when sleeping upright on a plane or remaining seated for extended periods without standing up. Pregnant individuals, smokers, and those taking specific medications are also at an increased risk of DVT.
Despite these challenges, sleeping upright can be a comfortable and safe option for some individuals. Certain medical conditions, such as morbid obesity or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, may make sitting up more comfortable for sleeping. Additionally, sleeping in a reclined position can alleviate shoulder pain for some people. However, it is generally recommended that sleeping upright should be a temporary measure until a person can comfortably sleep in a bed.
To minimize the risk of DVT while sleeping upright, it is essential to take preventative measures. These include reclining your seat, staying hydrated, and moving around or stretching whenever possible. While sleeping upright is not inherently unhealthy, ensuring adequate rest and comfort is crucial for overall sleep quality.
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While sleeping upright is generally safe, it can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially fatal condition caused by blood clots in the legs or thighs
Sleeping upright is neither inherently healthy nor unhealthy. While it can be the most comfortable option for some people with certain medical conditions, it can also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a type of blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, but it can also develop in the arm. It is caused by impaired blood flow due to factors such as immobility, dehydration, and pressure on the calf from sitting for too long. These factors can lead to the occlusion or blockage of the main popliteal vein behind the knee.
During sleep, our bodies relax and lose muscle tone, which can make it difficult to maintain an upright position. The risk of DVT is particularly relevant during long flights or car rides when individuals are more likely to be sitting still for extended periods. Vascular researcher David Huber found that sleeping with legs outstretched under the seat in front, as in economy class on an airplane, can lead to "popliteal vein compression syndrome," increasing the risk of DVT.
The most serious complication of DVT occurs when a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, resulting in a pulmonary embolism (PE). PE can damage the lungs and even lead to fatal outcomes if the clot is large enough. Even without progressing to PE, DVT can have long-term health consequences.
To prevent DVT when sleeping upright, individuals can take measures such as wearing medical compression stockings, which improve blood flow and prevent blood from pooling in the legs. In a hospital setting, inflatable devices that squeeze muscles to promote blood flow may also be used. Additionally, keeping the feet elevated by raising the foot of the bed is recommended.
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Frequently asked questions
Waking up in a seated position can be attributed to parasomnias, which are sleep disorders that involve abnormal movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions, and dreams. Parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep talking, nightmares, and night terrors. Another possible explanation is REM Behaviour Disorder (RBD), which causes individuals to act out their dreams and can include sitting up, punching, kicking, jumping, and leaping.
Parasomnias are a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions, and dreams. They occur while falling asleep, sleeping, between sleep stages, or arousal from sleep. Parasomnias can make it difficult to get quality sleep and increase the risk of accidents and health problems due to a lack of rest.
Parasomnias can manifest in various ways, including sleepwalking, sleep talking, nightmares, night terrors, sleep texting, sleep driving, sleep-related hallucinations, and sleep-related eating disorders.
If you think you may have a parasomnia, it is important to consult a sleep doctor or physician. They can help explore the underlying causes and provide appropriate treatment. Some treatments can be done at home, such as scheduled awakenings, where you wake up before you spontaneously wake up, and creating a safer sleep environment by removing dangerous items and securing windows and doors.
