As cases of omicron continue to rise across England, a number of people have reported a new symptom that can disrupt your sleep.
Night sweats have already been listed as a common symptom of the variant, but now there is another effect that comes as people lie in bed.
One study found a marked rise in sleep disturbances among patients.
READ MORE: PCR tests axed for people without symptoms as Covid testing rules eased
It comes after reports of those experiencing sleep paralysis while suffering from coronavirus are increasing, according to Glasgow Live.
The NHS website describes sleep paralysis as "when you cannot move or speak as you are waking up or falling asleep".
The sensation can be 'terrifying' for anyone who experiences it, however the NHS adds that it is harmless and that most people will only get it once or twice in their life.
The feeling that someone is in your room or as if something is pushing you down can last up to several minutes.
One expert said the sleep paralysis could be a side-effect of the pandemic and the societal changes it has caused, rather than being caused by covid itself.
Sleep therapy doctor Kat Lederly told MailOnline: “It could be the virus infection itself impacts on the sleep regulation in the brain (neurological effects of covid have been reported).
“I think it is more likely that should there be an increase in sleep paralysis, that this is due to the stress resulting from the big changes to how we go and live our lives at the moment, the uncertainty and anxiety that we are facing which are impacting on our sleep system."
Using the most recent data, SurreyLive said ZOE scientists analysed symptom data from positive cases recorded.
The top five symptoms in the ZOE Covid Symptom Study are:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fatigue (mild or severe)
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
The NHS continue to encourage people to get tested if they have any of the following main symptoms of covid:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
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