Understanding Sleepwalking
November 23, 2009
Sleepwalking or somnambulism is a condition in which person walks in the sleep unknowingly. The condition occurs due to many reasons and is curable.
Symptoms
Initial symptoms of sleepwalking are visible during pre-puberty phase. It may start as short episodes of moving around in sleep and then coming back.
Sleepwalkers tend to get violent towards those who try to wake them up in the middle of their episode. They may scream, experience frequent bed wetting. Bed wetting is common in adult sleepwalkers too.
Other symptoms include dark circles below the eye, irritability, stress and fatigue.
Causes
Hereditary factor plays a significant role. When an immediate relative has had a history of sleepwalking the risk is very high for the younger generation. It occurs commonly in identical twins.
Sleepwalking is found to be accompanied by certain medical conditions. These conditions further aggravate the episode. These conditions are fever, asthma (especially night time asthma), arrhythmias, convulsions or obstructive sleep apnea.
Psychiatric disorders like panic attacks or multiple personality disorders are rare but these disorders worsen sleepwalking episodes, making them more frequent.
Elderly people who face problem of gastro esophageal reflux may experience are sleepwalking phases.
Certain medications used to treat allergies (anti-histamines) may cause temporary sleepwalking.
Similar effect may be caused by sedatives, tranquilizers and stimulants.
An abrupt lifestyle that includes continuous stress, disturbed sleep, and magnesium deficiency can disturb the basic REM phase.
Sleep walking is found to be more common in women than in men. It has been found that sleepwalking episodes are more common in women during monthly periods and pregnancy.
Solution
In case of very frequent episodes, the room of the patient must be locked from outside. No should sleep with them since patient may show some unpredictable or dangerous actions.
Sometimes locking the person may trigger them to behave violently. An alarm bell can be put on the door of the room.
Keep sharp objects out of reach. If possible, the room of such a person must be moved to the ground floor in order to prevent stair case accidents.
Hypnosis technique is said to improve the condition. It must only be done by someone experienced.
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