What is sleep paralysis?

What Causes Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is quite common: Surveys found that about 40 percent of people have had the problem at some point in their lives. In fact, almost every culture has some sort of story or explanation for the experience, ranging from vengeful spirits to alien abductors. Folklore aside, a number of factors can increase your likelihood of having sleep paralysis.One of the major causes of sleep paralysis is sleep deprivation, or a lack of sleep. A changing sleep schedule, sleeping on your back, the use of certain medications, stress, and other sleep-related problems, such as narcolepsy, may also play a role.