Sleepwalking: Causes, Is It Common, In Children’s, Treatment, And More.

What Exactly Is Sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking also known as somnambulism or noctambulism is a disorder, which causes people to walk around while they are asleep.

During sleepwalking people also do work like eating, cleaning, bathroom, and may even do more complex processes like driving.

It is very common in children and adults.

People often do not remember anything in sleepwalking because their consciousness has changed to a state in which memories are difficult to remember.

Although their eyes can remain open and their expression is glazed and dim over, and it can last from 30 seconds to half an hour (1).

Causes of sleepwalking

Sleep researchers say that several medical issues, activities, and substances have been identified for triggering the sleepwalking phenomenon.

NOTE: A study suggests that genetics play also a role in sleepwalking if your parents have ever faced this, then you may have it too.

But some are things that may trigger sleepwalking. which include:

• Stress
  • A study by a sleep clinic where 193 patients found that there were also stressful events that primarily triggered sleepwalking during the day.
• Low sleep wave
• Sleep apnea
• Excessive tiredness
• Migraine headache
• Sleep deprivation
• Fever
• Delay in the maturity of the Central Nervous System
• Parkison’s disease (It is a nerve condition that affects the ability of the body to move.)
• Medicines

Medicines are also associated with sleepwalking disorders such as – antidepressants, B-blockers, antipsychotics, and more.

Strong evidence suggests that there are some medicines that have caused sleepwalking include – Zolpidem and Sodium oxybate.

But What Really Happens In our Brain?

NOTE: During sleeping, our brain goes through various stages of sleep, however sometimes, when we are in a deep, Non-Rem level of sleep.

Our brain skips the active brain, REM stage, and directly goes to being awake.

Hence, we enter a state where our brain is just awake enough to perform physical activities.

But you are still sleeping and there is no conscious awareness. thus causing sleepwalking.

Signs And Symptoms

Symptoms of sleepwaker can most occur at night after 1-2 or 3 hours of sleep. and It can last from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.

Here are the signs and symptoms of sleepwalking. which include:

• Can be seen walking up with eyes open
• Sit up in bed
• Do not respond to conversations
• Especially, difficult to wake up
• Can’t remember anything after waking up
• From eating food to driving a car, can try
• May perform activities such as rubbing their eyes, because these people often try to participate in normal everyday activities while sleeping.
• Can also do their daily activity, such as wearing cloth, talking, eating, etc.
• Involvement in sexual activity may also occur.

How Common Is This?

It is most common in children than adults.

One study found that 29% of children were b/w the ages of 2 and 13 experienced sleepwalking at the ages of 10 to 13.

And in adults is estimated to be up to 4%.

Even, the sleepwalkers do not remember the activities they have done.

Is Sleepwalking Dangerous?

Sleepwalking itself is not harmful, but the activity you do in this condition may put you a great risk including:

• Eating whatever is
• stepping downstairs
• even driving a car, or running.

But one review showed that adult sleepwalking is a possibly significant issue that can prompt brutal behaviour and affect the quality of life.

Is Sleepwalking a Sign Of Mental Illness?

One study showed that 22.4% of people have done sleepwalking at least once. and it can be a sign of our mental health condition.

And this causes psychological distress, which leads to interfering with relationships, and work and even affects overall life.

Any mental condition that can interfere with sleep which is more common among people who have (2):

• Anxiety
• Nightmares
• PTSD (Posttraumatic stress disorder)
• Brain injury
• Schizophrenia

NOTE: Alcohol and drug users can talk and walk in their sleep.

Sleepwalking In children’s

Sleepwalking is common in children.

One study found that sleepwalking occurred in 45% of children who have one parent who sleepwalked, and in 60% of children if both parents sleepwalked.

And this condition is not a sign that something thing is emotionally and mentally wrong with a child. it does no emotional harm.

It saw not only in children but also observed that the chance of sleepwalking increases before the onset of menstruation (periods).

Hormone fluctuations in women may lead to this, but hormone changes during pregnancy reduce the chances of sleepwalking.

Learn – Obesity, And Pregnancy

How Doctors Diagnose & Treat It?

The simple way to diagnose is with your partner or your parents because this can help the doctor to prepare your report by keeping an eye on you.

If the doctor finds something strange or concerned, so then they may tell you about the sleep study condition.

NOTE: During the sleep study, a team will check your blood pressure, blood oxygen level, movements, brain waves, and breathing, while you sleep.

You may be able to prevent this by reducing the stress in your daily life and improving the quality of your lifestyle.

NOTE: Treatment is usually not needed in children as children get older. sleepwalking often goes away on its own.

If this method doesn’t work, so there is a wide range of treatments. which include:

• Anticipatory waking
• Relaxation exercise
• Managing anger feelings
• Sleep hygiene
• Play therapy
• Hypnosis
• Electric shock

Antiicolinergic (Biperiden), clonazepam (diazepam, flurazepam and triazolam), melatonin, and certain herbs may help you with In this.

What Safety Could We Provide To Sleepwakers?

Here are some safety things you can implement in your door, stairs, and bed.

• Door alarm, when you walk through the door, the alarm will trigger, which interrupts your sleepwalking episode.
• Put gates across the stairs
• Lock doors, and windows
• Most important, most people with this condition go to the kitchen, so keep sharp objects like forks, knives, and things out of their reach.

If your partner interferes with your sleep, lock them in another room, where there are no such things that he can harm himself.

BOTTOM LINE

It is very common in children and adults.

Treatment is usually not needed in children as children get older. sleepwalking often goes away on its own.

Hormone fluctuations in women may lead to this, but hormone changes during pregnancy reduce the chances of sleepwalking.

Strong evidence suggests that there are some medicines that have caused sleepwalking include – Zolpidem and Sodium oxybate.