Dear Dr. Gott: Once in a while, my body will "jerk" involuntarily as I fall asleep. What causes this? Does it mean I have a heart condition or other problem? Dear Reader: You appear to be describing a ...

Almost everyone has felt it at least once. You are on the edge of sleep when your body suddenly jolts, often paired with the unmistakable sensation that you are falling. The rush can be intense enough ...

Many people have had the experience, as the head hits the pillow, of a strong sensation of falling as one drifts off to sleep, accompanied by a sharp “jolt back awake.” Such a moment can put one’s ...