Sleepwalking is a condition where individuals walk around while asleep, often occurring during stages 3 and 4 of non-rapid eye movement sleep. Children are most commonly affected, but adults can also sleepwalk. While usually harmless, it can be dangerous, and medical attention may be needed if there is an underlying medical or psychological reason. There is no known cause, but it may have a genetic factor. Treatment involves preventing injury and addressing any underlying conditions.
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is a condition in which an individual gets up and walks around while actually asleep. Most sleepwalkers are children between the ages of four and 12, although adults can sleepwalk as well. Sleepwalkers, or those who sleepwalk, typically do not need medical attention unless there is an underlying medical or psychological reason for the sleepwalking.
Sleeping is a complex procedure. People experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep typically when they dream and non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) where people drift into deep sleep. NREM sleep has four stages, stage 1 when people feel sleepy, stage 2 when people are light sleepers, and stages 3 and 4 when people are sound sleepers. Sleepwalking typically occurs during stages 3 and 4 early in the night or during REM sleep closer to the morning.
Sleepwalkers may walk around the house, perform repetitive tasks, open and close doors, and turn lights on and off. They can fully dress or drive a car. Sleepwalkers can have conversations that don’t make sense. People who sleepwalk may not remember the incident when they wake up.
No one knows exactly what causes sleepwalking among children. Adults can sleepwalk if they take drugs that depress the central nervous system, due to seizures, or due to psychological problems. The elderly may sleepwalk due to REM disturbances. Sleepwalking may also have a genetic factor as sleepwalking appears to run in families.
Children typically “grow up” from sleepwalking without needing medical attention. Doctors may recommend that adults get tests to determine if their sleepwalking is related to an underlying medical or physical condition, such as sleep apnea. Doctors may also prescribe tranquilizers for a short time to help prevent sleepwalking episodes. Also, some doctors suggest hypnosis to treat adult sleepwalkers.
The most important treatment for sleepwalking is to prevent the person who is sleepwalking from getting hurt. People who sleepwalk can, and do, have accidents such as tripping or falling down stairs. The idea that a person cannot injure themselves while sleepwalking is a myth.
Another common myth about sleepwalking is that a sleepwalker shouldn’t be awakened during an episode. This is not true. It is not dangerous for the sleepwalker to be awakened during an accident, although the person may be disoriented or confused for a period of time after awakening.
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