Sleepwalking – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments

Sleepwalking – What it is, Symptoms and Drug Treatments. Furthermore, Sleepwalking is a behavioral disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while sleeping. It is much more common in children than adults and is more likely to occur if a person is sleep deprived . Because a sleepwalker normally remains in deep sleep throughout the episode, he or she may be difficult to wake up from and likely will not remember the sleepwalker’s incident.

Sleepwalking usually involves more than just walking during sleep; It is a series of complex behaviors that are performed during sleep , the most obvious of which is walking. Symptoms of sleepwalking disorder range from simply sitting up in bed and looking around, walking around the room or house, leaving the house, and even driving long distances. It is a common misconception that a sleepwalker should not be awakened. In fact, it can be quite dangerous not to wake a sleepwalker.

Causes of Sleepwalking:  The exact causes of Sleepwalking have not yet been fully clarified. However, doctors point to a number of factors that can increase a person’s chances of developing sleepwalking episodes – particularly at night. Here are the main causes of  sleepwalking:

• Going without sleep for long periods
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fever
• Sudden changes in sleep routine
• Certain medications
• Ingestion of alcoholic beverages

Sleepwalking can sometimes be due to underlying causes that interfere with a person’s quality of sleep, such as:

• Sleep apnea (obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type)
• narcolepsy
• restless legs syndrome
• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Migraine
• hyperthyroidism
• Head trauma
• Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Symptoms of Sleepwalking:  Sleepwalking is most often initiated during deep sleep , but can occur in the lighter stages of NREM sleep, usually within a few hours of sleep, and the sleepwalker may be partially aroused during the episode. A sleepwalker may:

• Get out of bed and walk around the room
• Sit up in bed and open your eyes
• Have a vague expression in the eyes
• Doing routine activities, such as getting dressed, talking, or making a snack
• Not responding or not communicating with others when called
• Being difficult to wake up during a sleepwalking episode
• Presenting rapid disorientation or confusion after being awakened
• Quickly go back to sleep
• Remember absolutely nothing when you wake up normally in the morning
• Experience stress, moodiness, and daytime sleep as a result of disturbances during the night
• Introduce sleep terrors

Rarely, a person with Sleepwalking :

• get out of the house
• direct
• Shows some kind of unusual behavior, such as urinating inside the closet
• Have sex without being aware of it
• Injure yourself falling down stairs or jumping out of a window, for example
• Acquires violent behavior during episodes
• Is violent or aggressive soon after waking up

Risk Factors for Sleepwalking:  There are, in general, two major factors that are considered to be at risk for triggering episodes of Sleepwalking . These are:

• Genetics:  There is scientific evidence of a genetic predisposition to Sleepwalking , passed mainly from parents to children. It is very common, therefore, to observe several members of the same family with recurrent episodes of sleepwalking .
• Age:  Children between three and seven years of age are more likely to develop episodes of sleepwalking . This is a very intense stage of development of the nervous system and it is natural, therefore, that these changes are reflected in children’s sleep . Sleepwalking tends to disappear during adolescence, but it can also appear in adults. In these cases, it is often more related to other health conditions than to a sleep disorder itself.

Sleepwalking Treatments :  Sleepwalking is a benign sleep disorder , which can go away spontaneously in children. Treatment is only necessary when episodes are frequent and may pose a risk of accidents or embarrassment for the patient.

In these cases, it has proved useful to resort to medications that combat tension and anxiety states and affect sleep patterns, including benzodiazepines and certain antidepressants. Relaxation techniques and psychotherapy also help to control the disorder that has not yet been cured. Sleepwalking attacks associated with illnesses such as sleep apnea , gastroesophageal reflux disease and fever , for example, respond well when the underlying illnesses are properly treated.

Prevention  of Sleepwalking:  Since doctors still do not know for sure what causes sleepwalking , in addition to signs of genetic predisposition, there are no measures that can be proven to prevent episodes of this disorder.