Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Sleepwalking? Is Sleepwalking a Serious Problem? What Will the Doctor Do? Here are some tips to help prevent sleepwalking: Relax at bedtime by listening to soft music or relaxation tapes.
Have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it. Keep noise and lights low while you're trying to sleep. Avoid drinking a lot in the evening and be sure to go to the bathroom before going to bed. A full bladder can contribute to sleepwalking. Robynne Boyd began writing about people and the planet when living barefoot and by campfire on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism.
Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Create Account See Subscription Options. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. For detailed personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner who knows your medical history. ABC Everyday helps you navigate life's challenges and choices so you can stay on top of the things that matter to you.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. ABC Everyday. Print content Print with images and other media. Print text only. Print Cancel. So, should you wake someone who is sleepwalking, or leave them be?
Don't shake or hit a sleepwalker The common idea is that it's dangerous to wake a sleepwalker because you could cause them harm, perhaps by triggering a heart attack or a level of shock so intense it could kill them.
But should you wake the person up? Some people argue that waking sleepwalkers will confuse and anger them, possibly endangering the person doing the waking. Others believe that sleepwalkers should be woken up because they may harm themselves if left alone. Sleepwalking is called a disorder of arousal, and family history is usually what determines whether or not a person will be a sleepwalker. Common triggers, such as sedatives, medications, or fever, will often only affect those people who are predisposed to sleepwalking.
Most children who start sleepwalking at an early age outgrow it by the time they reach adolescence. However, if children start sleepwalking after age 9 it is likely that they will continue into adulthood.
The idea that sleepwalkers should not be woken up is a widely held belief. Some people think waking the sleepwalker will increase his risk of a heart attack. However, most believe that the person doing the walking is at a greater risk for harm. Research on similar forms of sleep pathology has found that some people do get aggressive when woken up from the non-REM rapid eye movement phase of the sleep cycle which is when sleepwalking occurs.
Other studies also caution against waking up sleepwalkers because of possible resistance and violence. The myth that a sleepwalker should be left alone stems from an ancient belief that the soul leaves the body during sleep, and if a sleepwalker is woken up they will be a body without a soul.
Metaphysical reasoning aside, the presumption that sleepwalkers will exhibit wildly disturbed behavior when awakened is largely unfounded. Although some people may become aggressive, researchers have found that most of the time sleepwalkers are simply confused, disoriented, scared, or embarrassed.
Waking a sleepwalker should be done as gently as possible to avoid such responses. It is difficult to wake a person who is sleepwalking, and many sleep experts recommend gently guiding the person back to bed instead. Sleepwalkers most likely will not remember the incident in the morning. It is important to get the person to go back to sleep in his or her bed because sleepwalkers often engage in activities that should require full attention, and thus are dangerous to do while partially asleep.
Such behaviors include leaving the bed and walking down stairs, eating, drinking, cooking, and even driving a car. Therefore, leading the sleepwalker back to bed, and waking him if necessary, is the safest option.
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