Have you ever been so tired that the moment you hit the bed, you feel like you are sinking in your mattress? Or did you ever feel your leg twitch in middle of your sleep? Did you feel like you moved your leg to prevent yourself from falling down? If yes, then you are in for a great read!

Why does this happen?

You are not alone, this happens to around 70% of the total population in some way or another. Although these are signs of sleep disorders, it can also happen to people who are otherwise healthy. Sleep disorder specialists believe that there are certain common triggers that leads to such a sensation.

Our brain is exceptional and sometimes when we dream, it makes us believe that we our part of the dream. And if you are falling from somewhere in your dream, chances are, you would feel like you are falling in real life. This experience is known as hypnic jerk, the movement of your muscle that helps you be safe from that fall, or the imaginary one.

What causes it? When we sleep, our bodies become paralyzed, but that does not mean that our muscle control is not totally off. Rather, a slow, dimmer switch. When the dim switch randomly is turned on, we get jerky movements in our sleep.

This involuntary muscle movement is also called myoclonus or hypnic myoclonus, that transitions as you shift from one sleep phase into another.

ALSO SEE: What is sleep paralysis?

What Could Cause It?

There are many theories on what might be causing it. One of them is that when you are at this stage of sleep, you are still not in deep sleep and your brain misinterprets it as wakefulness, however, at the same time your brain does not recognize your muscles to be moving. This is what leads your brain to send a message to your muscles to check-in. It is a way your brain tries to protect you.

Another theory is of course that of stress. When you are stressed, your mind might be racing, while your body is in stationary. This can also affect your sleep cycle and your sleep can be disrupted.

If you are on stimulant drugs or alcohol, it too can prevent you from achieving a good night sleep. If you have consumed too much caffeine then too your muscles can twitch to make you stay awake.

Furthermore, lack of sleep could also be the reason why your mind is used to staying awake even if your body really needs the rest.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

While the falling sensation in sleep is quite common, and happens to healthy people, a severe form is the Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). PLMD is a repetitive cramping or jerking of legs during sleep. It is a movement disorder that happens only during sleep. It is called "periodic" because the movements are repetitive and rhythmic, which means it occurs in every 20 to 40 seconds. It is also often linked with restless legs syndrome, however, the two are not the same thing.

Restless leg syndrome on the other hand is a condition that involves strange sensations in the legs and arms while awake and an irresistible urge to move the limbs to relive the sensations.

What causes PLMD may be more severe things, including diabetes, iron deficiency, spinal cord tumor, spinal cord injury, sleep apnea, uremia, anemia, narcolepsy, or certain medications.

Climate change is increasingly emerging as a major public health threat, contributing to a growing burden of disease worldwide and creating favorable conditions for the spread of infectious illnesses, according to health experts on World Environment Day 2026.

World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5 to raise awareness about the need for immediate action as heatwaves intensify, air pollution worsens, ecosystems degrade, and climate anxiety grows worldwide, even as the world crosses the UN-mandated 1.5°C limit.

The theme for World Environment Day 2026 is "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future". It focuses on climate change and the signals nature is sending such as rising seas, raging wildfires, heatwaves and melting glaciers.

To understand the intersection between climate change and health impacts, HealthandMe spoke to two experts.

Heatwaves, Pollution And Food Insecurity

According to Dr. Sabine Kapasi, UN advisor, the consequences are no longer limited to environmental damage. Rising temperatures, worsening air pollution and shifting weather patterns are already affecting human health across the globe.

“Longer and more intense heatwaves are resulting in more cases of heat-related illness. Air pollution continues to exacerbate respiratory diseases, while changing weather patterns are impacting food security and nutrition in many parts of the world,” she said.

Importantly, in India, children, pregnant women and communities living in flood- and drought-prone regions face some of the greatest risks. Women are often disproportionately affected due to challenges related to water supply and sanitation. While India has reduced malaria cases by nearly 80 per cent since 2015, climate change is creating new health challenges that health systems will need to address in the coming years.

Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Also read: Dengue Is Spreading Beyond Monsoons And Into New Regions Across India, Says Expert

The expert warned that changing climatic conditions are also increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Dr. Kapasi told HealthandMe that rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns are allowing mosquitoes to breed more easily and remain active for longer periods.

Floods further compound the problem by contaminating drinking water, damaging sanitation systems and disrupting healthcare services. Displacement caused by disasters can force families into crowded living conditions, increasing the risk of infections such as cholera, leptospirosis and tuberculosis.

“Recent climate-related disasters in South Asia and Africa have shown how quickly an environmental crisis can turn into a public health challenge,” she noted.

The spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya is also becoming a growing concern. Health authorities around the world are reporting these diseases in areas where they were previously uncommon.

Globally, countries including Italy, France and Spain have also witnessed an increase in locally transmitted dengue and chikungunya cases over the past decade. In the United States, locally acquired malaria cases were recently reported in Florida and Texas, marking the first such transmission in nearly 20 years.

India is also experiencing rising dengue activity. Dengue outbreaks have become a regular occurrence during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in many states. Estimates suggest dengue cases could reach around 278,000 in 2025, up from roughly 230,000 the previous year. Experts say warmer temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are helping disease-carrying mosquitoes survive and spread more effectively.

Climate Change And Shifting Disease Patterns

Also read: Forget Supplements: Barbara O'Neill Says Sleep Is The Best Medicine

Dr. Devarsetty Praveen, Program Director at NIHR GHRC for Non-communicable Diseases and Environmental Change, hosted by The George Institute India, in partnership with Imperial College London, said climate change is affecting both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

“Climate change is increasing health risks through rising temperatures, extreme weather events, worsening air quality and changing disease patterns. In India, it is affecting both communicable and non-communicable diseases, with vulnerable populations bearing the greatest burden,” he told HealthandMe.

He noted that research has found that people living with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, underscoring the growing link between climate change and non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Praveen added that climate change influences disease transmission by altering temperature, humidity and rainfall patterns while also affecting water quality, food systems and interactions between humans, animals and disease vectors.

“These changes can make outbreaks more frequent, more widespread and harder to predict,” he said.

How To Reduce Climate-related Health Risks

To reduce climate-related health risks, the experts recommend staying informed about weather conditions, remaining hydrated, limiting outdoor exposure during extreme heat and taking precautions against mosquito bites.

People with chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease are advised to maintain adequate medication supplies and consult healthcare providers during periods of extreme heat.

According to the experts, awareness and early action remain critical to protecting public health as climate change continues to reshape disease patterns around the world.

To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, people should make sure that water does not get collected in buckets, coolers, flower pots or other containers around the home. Additional precautions include the use of mosquito repellents, sleeping under nets when necessary and wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs.

Dr Sabine said food and water safety is particularly important after heavy rain or flooding. Proper food storage, clean drinking water and good hygiene practices can go a long way in preventing many infections. Those with pre-existing medical conditions should also have essential medicines within easy reach during extreme weather.

The United States has been working on reducing smog for more than a decade and has become quite successful in this endeavor, but since 2015, the situation has changed for the worse as a new study reveals that the smog level is once again on the rise, and the main reason behind this is another long-term problem of the nation, wildfire.

The federal regulations tightened on power plants, cars, and diesel engines, which in turn caused a drop in the national smog level by 11% from 2003 to 2015. Since then, cases of wildfire have increased, resulting in the smog level going up by 4%. The study finds that if the current trend continues, it will cause smog to go back up to 2003 levels in 20 years.

The study in the journal Science has also calculated a surge in deaths from ozone attacking lungs by comparing death rates in clean and dirty air. They estimated a surge of 318 American deaths per year since 2013 due to smog.

The co-author of the study, Meng Zhou, a University of Iowa wildfire researcher, said, “For the last 20 years, by regulations, we keep decreasing the emissions." He added, “However, because of wildfires, which are actually from natural hazards, all those kinds of effort were wiped out.”

The study also flagged concerns about the current smog situation and its possible impact on the population. University of Washington public health and climate scientist Kristie Ebi said, “Higher daily ozone concentrations can increase asthma attacks, hospital admissions, and mortality.” She added, “still a very important pollutant, which is why it's regulated.”

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The research finds that the heavy wildfire smoke seasons of 2022, 2023, and 2024, mainly in Canada, created a massive amount of smog, and this then came down south. As a result, about 43 million people got exposed to smog levels that exceeded the current EPA safety standards. The wildfires in Canada have been particularly severe since 2022.

The problem is also with the massive wildfires in the mainland US, as the National Interagency Fire Center's data also shows that the average amount of land in the US that wildfires burn every year has increased by 9% higher than it was from 2003 to 2014.

Also Read: CDC Warns That Tick Bites Are Surging Across The US: What You Need to Know

What Are The Possible Health Impacts?

There are many short-term and long-term impacts on public health from the constant exposure to air pollution. As per IQAir, in the short term, people experience irritation in the eyes, throat, and nose, along with irregular heartbeats, asthma attacks, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.

Prolonged exposure also intensifies these risks and leads to long-term effects such as chronic respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. Pollutants can also damage lung tissue, increasing the likelihood of lung cancer. Air pollution also leads to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and could also be linked to premature death.

Naturopath and health educator Barbara O'Neill believes many of the foundations of good health are simple, inexpensive, and often overlooked.

In an interview with HealthandMe, she spoke about her journey into natural healing. Barbara said her interest began when she was looking for alternatives to repeated medication use for her children.

"I was pulled towards natural healing because I didn't want to give my children drugs," she said, recalling how her first child underwent four courses of antibiotics within six weeks.

That experience prompted her to explore other ways of managing common health issues such as earaches and discomfort.

On Ayurveda And Traditional Healing

Barbara said she sees similarities between her philosophy of health and Ayurveda. "I believe that there's a lot of similarities between what I believe," said the 72-year-old, adding that she supports approaches that work and do not cause harm.

While acknowledging that medicines can save lives in emergencies, she argued that long-term healing depends on creating the right conditions for the body.

"Yes, in a crisis, a drug may save a life, but drugs can't heal us. That's why it's time to go back to the old ways," she said.

According to Barbara, understanding how the body functions is key to understanding healing.

"When you understand how they function, then you begin to understand what they need. And if you give the body the right conditions, the healing will accelerate," she told HealthandMe.

The Healthy Habits

Barbara said that sleep, hydration, exercise, and natural foods are key to better health. She also called out modern lifestyles, which often encourage people to stay awake too late, particularly because of technology; and recommended getting enough sleep.

"Start going to bed earlier and aiming for eight hours sleep a night," she said.

Barbara also emphasized daily movement, whether through running, walking, push-ups, squats, or stretching.

"Every day, I make a point of moving my body," she said.

Why Barbara O'Neill Doesn't Take Supplements

At a time when supplements have become a multi-billion-dollar industry, Barbara revealed that she does not take any supplements herself.

"I take no supplements," she said, noting that she advocates focusing on fundamental health habits.

"What should be there instead is exercise every day, eating food in its natural state, drinking adequate water, and going to bed early," she said.

While she is not opposed to supplements, she believes they are often unnecessary.

"There are times where they may be necessary, but most of the time we don't need them," she added.

Natural Food And Stress Management

Barbara also encouraged people to eat foods in their natural state and suggested a simple dietary habit for Indians.

"Eat dal every day," she said.

For stress management, she said both sleep and meditation are important. She described beginning each day with prayer, reflection, and quiet time.

Barbara said that the human body has an innate ability to heal when supported by healthy habits.

"I want people to remember that they live in a body that can heal. So please look after it," she told HealthandMe.