Description

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is when people get up and walk around while I slept. It is more common in children than in adults. Children usually outgrow sleepwalking through the years of adolescence. Sleepwalking happens once in a while is not often a serious problem and does not need treatment. But the sleepwalking that happens a lot may suggest an underlying sleep disorder.

Sleepwalking in adults, it is more likely to be confused with, or pass as a part of other sleep disorders. Medical conditions can also cause people to walk in his sleep.

If the people in your home sleepwalking, it is important to take measures to help prevent harm while sleepwalking.

Symptoms

Sleepwalking usually occurs early in the night — often 1 to 2 hours after falling asleep. It is not likely to occur during naps, but it is possible. An episode of sleepwalking may occur rarely or often. A fight usually lasts for several minutes, but can last longer.

The people that sleepwalking can:

  • Get out of bed and walking.
  • Sit on the bed and open their eyes.
  • It has a terrace, glassy eyes expression.
  • Do not answer or talk with others.
  • Be difficult to wake up.
  • Be confused for a short time after waking.
  • I don't remember in the morning that sleepwalked.
  • Have trouble functioning during the day due to sleep disorders.
  • They also have sleep terrors that cause screaming and flailing his arms and legs.

Sometimes, people who sleepwalk will be:

  • Make routine activities, such as dressing, talking, or eating.
  • Get out of the house.
  • To drive a car.
  • Take part in unusual behaviors, such as the passage of urine in a closet.
  • Take part in sexual activity without being aware of it.
  • He is injured, as by falling down the stairs or jump out of a window.
  • They become violent, while that briefly confused after waking up or once in a while sleepwalking.

When to see a doctor

Occasional sleepwalking episodes are usually not a cause for concern. They usually go away on their own. You can simply mention sleepwalking in a routine examination or examination of the child.

Consult your health care professional if sleepwalking episodes:

  • Often happens — for example, more than 1 to 2 times a week or several times a night.
  • Lead to dangerous behaviors, or injury to persons sleepwalking or other.
  • To disturb the sleep of the members of the household or those that sleepwalking.
  • Become very tired during the day or causing problems in activities of daily living, such as at school or at work.
  • Continue to your child in adolescence or start for the first time as an adult.

Causes

Sleepwalking is classified as a parasomnia — an undesired behavior or event during sleep. Sleepwalking is a disorder of arousal. This means that occurs during N3 sleep, the deepest stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Another NREM sleep disorder is sleep terrors, which can occur with sleepwalking.

Many factors can lead to sleepwalking, including:

  • Not getting enough sleep.
  • Stress.
  • Fever.
  • Hours of sleep interruptions, travel, or interruptions of sleep.

Sometimes the underlying conditions that affect sleep can cause sleepwalking, such as:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing — a group of disorders with unusual patterns of breathing during sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
  • The taking of certain drugs, such as hypnotics, sedatives, or some of the medicines used for mental health conditions.
  • The use of substances, such as alcohol.
  • Restless legs syndrome.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of sleepwalking are:

  • Genetics. Sleepwalking seems to run in families. It is more common if one of the parents has a history of sleepwalking, and much more common in the case that both parents have a history of sleep disorder.
  • Age. Sleepwalking occurs most frequently in children than in adults. When it starts in an adult, it is most likely related to other underlying conditions.

Complications

Sleepwalking in itself is not necessarily a problem, but the people that sleepwalking can:

  • Get hurt, especially if they're close to the furniture or the stairs, outdoors, driving a car, or eating something that you shouldn't eat while sleepwalking.
  • Has a sleep disruption that lasts for a long time, which can get to be very tired during the day and possible school or behavioral problems.
  • Be very ashamed of his actions.
  • To disturb others ' sleep.

Rarely, people who sleepwalk may hurt someone closer.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the sleepwalking, your health care professional to review your medical history and symptoms. Your evaluation may include:

  • Physical exam. Your healthcare provider may do a physical exam to identify any conditions that may be confused with sleepwalking, such as the night of the seizures, other sleep disorders or panic attacks.
  • The discussion of your symptoms. Unless you live alone and you are not aware of your sleepwalking, it is likely that you tell others that you sleepwalk. If your dream couple arrives at the appointment, your health care professional may ask your sleep partner, if you seem to be sleepwalking. Your healthcare provider may also ask you and your dream partner to fill out a questionnaire about their sleep behaviors. Tell your health care professional if you have a family history of sleepwalking.
  • Sleep study. In some cases, your health care professional may recommend an overnight study in a sleep laboratory. This sleep study called a polysomnogram. The sensors in your body is going to burn, and track your brain waves, the oxygen level in the blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements while you sleep. You can be in a video to document your behaviour during the sleep cycles.

Treatment

Occasional sleepwalking often don't need treatment. In children who sleepwalk, it usually goes away by the years of adolescence.

If the sleepwalking can lead to injuries, it disrupts the members of the family, or the results of the shame, or the interruption of a dream for people who sleepwalk, treatment may be needed. Treatment generally focuses on the promotion of the safety and stop what is causing the sleepwalking.

Treatment may include:

  • The treatment of any underlying condition, if the sleepwalking is associated with not getting enough sleep or underlying sleep disorder or medical condition.
  • The adjustment of the medicine, if you think that the sleepwalking is due to a drug.
  • Advance awakenings, which means waking people up about 15 minutes before you usually sleepwalk, then stay awake for a couple of minutes before falling asleep again.
  • The medication , such as benzodiazepines, which slow down the activity in the nervous system, or certain antidepressants.
  • Learning self-hypnosis from a trained professional who is familiar with parasomnias. The people that we are open to suggestions during hypnosis you can achieve a deep state of relaxation that could change unwanted activities during sleep.
  • Therapy or counseling, where a mental health professional can suggest ways to improve sleep and reduce stress, as well as teach techniques of self-hypnosis and relaxation.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If sleepwalking is a problem for you or for your child, try:

  • Make the environment safe. If the sleepwalking has led to lesions or you can do it, take precautions. Close and lock all outside doors and windows before bedtime. You can even lock the doors or placing alarms or bells on doors. Lock the doors or stairs with a door. Move the power cables and other tripping hazards on the way. Sleep in a room on the ground floor, if possible. Place sharp or breakable objects out of reach, and the locking of all the weapons. If your child sleepwalks, avoid bunk beds to sleep.
  • Gently bring the people who sleepwalk to the bed. It is not necessary to wake them up. Although it is not dangerous to be awake, it can be harmful if you are confused and possibly agitated.
  • Get enough sleep. Being too tired can lead to sleepwalking. If you don't get enough sleep — at least seven hours every night — try to go to bed earlier or more regular sleep schedule. Or take a short nap, which is especially helpful for young children. If possible, avoid the noise when you sleep or anything else that could interrupt your sleep.
  • Have a regular, relaxing routine before bedtime. Make a calm, relaxing before going to bed, such as reading books, doing puzzles, or soak in a hot bath. Meditation or relaxation exercises may also help. Make the bedroom quiet and comfortable for sleeping.
  • Put stress in its place. Identify the problems that cause stress and ways to handle the stress. Talk about what bothers you. Or if your child sleepwalks, and seems anxious or stressed, talk to your child about any concerns. A mental health professional can help.
  • Look for a pattern. For several nights, note ― or having another person in your house note ― how many minutes after the hour of going to bed with an episode of sleepwalking occurs. If the time is fairly consistent, this information could help a forecast plan awakenings.
  • Stay away from alcohol. Drinking alcohol can interfere with a good night's sleep and can cause sleepwalking.

Preparing for your appointment

If you sleepwalking and have concerns about the security or underlying conditions, consult your health care professional. You can bring a friend or family member, if possible, to provide more information about your sleepwalking. Your healthcare provider may refer you to a sleep specialist.

You may want to keep a sleep diary for two weeks before your appointment and bring the diary with you to your appointment. The information can help your healthcare provider to understand more about your sleep schedule, which affects sleep and when sleepwalking occurs. In the morning, log bedtime routines, sleep quality, and so on. At the end of the day, registration of behaviors that can affect sleep, as the sleep schedule changes, the alcohol that is consumed, and any medications you are taking.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Any of the symptoms, including those that do not seem to be related to the appointment.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Questions to ask your health practitioner to make the most of your time together.

Some questions to ask your health care professional include:

  • What can cause the symptoms or condition?
  • What kind of proof do you need?
  • It is likely that this short-or long-term condition?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the options to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • There are guidelines that must be followed?
  • I need to see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider will probably ask you several questions. Be prepared to respond to them to make sure they have the time to go through all the points that you want to focus on.

Your health care professional may ask:

  • When did you begin to have symptoms?
  • Have you or your child has had sleep problems in the past?
  • Does anyone else in your family has problems sleeping, especially sleepwalking or sleep terrors?
  • What problems have you noticed related to sleepwalking, like waking up in an unusual place of the house?
  • There are symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses during sleep, difficulty in breathing during sleep, the sleep that is not refreshing, daytime sleepiness or changes in behavior?
Symptoms and treatment of Sleepwalking