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Health Check: When The Brain Wakes Up – But The Body Doesn’t

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Woman lying awake in bed

2017/11/08 GMT

When The Brain Wakes Up – But The Body Doesn’t

BBC World Service - Health Check, When The Brain Wakes Up – But The Body Doesn’t

Sleep paralysis:  when the brain wakes up – but the body doesn’t

Sleep paralysis: when the brain wakes up – but the body doesn’t; the cancer researcher inspired by her experiences of childhood leukaemia; Vitamin D could speed up burn healing

“When your brain wakes up but your body doesn’t” is how a sleep expert describes the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. Around 1 in 20 people will experience vivid hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up whilst being completely unable to move.  Sleeping on your back can help to reduce the risk of an attack. Even less well understood is 'Exploding Head Syndrome' where people experience abrupt and very loud noises when going to sleep or waking up. 

To mark the 150th anniversary of Marie Curie’s birth this week, the BBC’s 100 Women season is shining a spotlight on influential women in science and medicine. We hear from a British childhood leukaemia survivor whose own experiences helped to inspire her research into a link between drugs given during cancer treatment and illness later in life. 

A new study reports that elderly patients with severe burns who have higher levels of vitamin D recover more successfully than those with lower levels. The British researchers observed improved wound healing, fewer complications and less scarring and hope vitamin supplements could help burns patients to recover more quickly, once their findings are confirmed. 

Image: Woman lying awake in bed
Credit: OcusFocus/GETTY IMAGES

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