Unique Daily Question : What is Sleepwalking?

What Is Sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism or noctambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness. These activities can be as benign as sitting up in bed, walking to the bathroom, and cleaning, or as hazardous as cooking, violent gestures, grabbing at hallucinated objects or even homicide.

Do you know that not all sleep is the same every night. We experience some deep, quiet sleep and some active sleep, which is when dreams happen. Sleepwalking usually happens in the first few hours of sleep in the stage called slow-wave or deep sleep. Not all sleepwalkers actually walk. Some simply sit up or stand in bed or act like they're awake (but dazed) when, in fact, they're asleep. Sleepwalkers' eyes are open, but they don't see the same way they do when they're awake and often think they're in different rooms of the house or different places altogether. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and they won't remember it in the

morning. 

 

The prevalence of sleepwalking is much higher for children, especially those between the ages of three and seven, and occurs more often in children with sleep apnea Researchers estimate that up to 15% of kids sleepwalk regularly. The prevalence of sleepwalking in the general population is estimated to be between 1% and 15%. The onset or persistence of sleepwalking in adulthood is common, and is usually not associated with any significant underlying psychiatric or psychological problems.

How to Take Care of a Sleepwalker

One thing you can do to help is to clear rooms and hallways of furniture or obstacles a

sleepwalker might encounter during the night. If there are stairs or dangerous areas, a grown-up should close doors and windows or install safety gates. You also might have heard that sleepwalkers can get confused and scared if you startle them into being awake. That's true, so what do you do if you see someone sleepwalking? You should call for a grown-up who can gently steer the person back to bed. And once the sleepwalker is tucked back in bed, it's time for you to get some shut-eye, too. Thanks for reading ^^.

Source :

http://m.kidshealth.org

http://sleepfoundation.org