The sleep paralysis demon

The sleep paralysis demon: There has been a 900% increase in searches for ‘sleep paralysis demon‘ over the past year in the UK. But where is sleep paralysis most common?

A new study by Sleepseeker has used Google search volumes and trends to discover the UK cities that are home to the most sufferers of sleep paralysis and where the condition is on the rise.

You can view the full research here: https://www.sleepseeker.co.uk/blog/sleep-paralysis-mapped

The UK towns and cities with the most sleep paralysis sufferers:

Swansea is taking the top spot as the city with the most sufferers of sleep paralysis with a total of 1,799 Google searches per 100,000 residents.

Further study insights:

Slough is the area with the lowest number of sleep paralysis sufferers. Cardiff had the biggest increase in searches for sleep paralysis with a 175% increase in Google searches.

Australia is the country with the most sleep paralysis sufferers, with a total of 1,350 Google searches per 100,000 residents.

Hayley Thistleton, sleep expert at Sleepseeker, has revealed her 5 top tips for preventing sleep paralysis:

1. Eliminate Distractions

As technology continues to take over more and more aspects of our lives, we are encouraged to put down the screens before bed- and this is equally as important when it comes to sleep paralysis! By eliminating any loud noises and harsh lighting, you can keep those demons at bay.

2. 6-8 Hours Of Sleep

It goes without saying, but having a regular sleep schedule is beneficial for so many reasons. Having said that, it is particularly important to get 6-8 hours of beauty sleep if you are looking to prevent sleep paralysis. Some of the most popular ways to help people wind down include muscle relaxation and meditation which you can find many online tutorials for.

3. No food, alcohol or caffeine before bed

Although alcohol can make people more sluggish and less alert, this doesn’t mean that it is a good thing to do before bed. Studies have shown that drinking alcohol just before bed can result in fragmented sleeping and this is likely to increase your chances of having an episode of sleep paralysis. Similarly, food and caffeine are associated with providing energy so it’s no surprise that these should be avoided if you want to get a good night’s sleep!

4. Avoid Napping

It’s all too tempting to have an afternoon nap when you are feeling a bit tired during the day, but if you are experiencing sleep paralysis then this could be the reason why. Napping can disrupt your sleep pattern which can cause you to wake up during the night. If you are wanting to prevent sleep paralysis then it is recommended that you find other ways to fight off the midday tiredness such as a healthy snack or a short walk.

5. Don’t sleep on your back

Sleeping on your back is the second most common position, but this can be detrimental to your shut-eye as it makes you more likely to wake up from snoring. As mentioned before, a disrupted sleep schedule has been linked to sleep paralysis so if you are looking to prevent this condition then it could be as easy as turning onto your side.

You can find out more about sleep paralysis here.