Sleep walking is not just a habit, it can be a sign of a major disease! Know the whole truth about ‘sleepwalking’ and ways to prevent it

Have you ever thought that despite being in deep sleep, a person suddenly gets up from the bed, starts walking, opens the door or goes out of the house and the next morning he has no idea about it? This may sound like a scene from a thriller movie, but it is a real and serious situation in the world of medical science. This is called ‘Sleepwalking’ (Somnambulism). In this condition, the person is in a state where his body is active, but a part of the brain remains in deep sleep.

Why does the body stay awake while the mind remains asleep?

According to experts, our sleep is mainly divided into two parts—REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and Non-REM. Sleepwalking usually occurs in the first half of the night, when we are in deep sleep i.e. Non-REM stage. During this time, the part of the brain that controls physical activities becomes active, while the part related to consciousness and memory remains in a dormant state. This is why a sleepwalker can perform normal activities like walking, changing clothes or opening doors, but he is not aware of what he is doing.

These are the main reasons hidden behind sleepwalking

Sleep walking is more common in children as their nervous systems are developing, but it is also common in adults. There can be many triggers behind this. The most prominent reasons include severe sleep deprivation, excessive mental stress and anxiety. Apart from this, if someone in the family has had this problem, it can also reach you due to genetic reasons. Sometimes high fever, alcohol consumption or side effects of certain medicines also force a person to walk in sleep.

‘Sleeping’ can be an early sign of major diseases

Although in many cases sleepwalking is normal and resolves with time, if it is happening repeatedly, it can become too much to ignore. Medical experts say that this can be a sign of mental problems like insomnia, sleep apnea, anxiety or depression. In some rare cases it may also point towards neurological conditions. Additionally, there is always a risk of a sleepwalker getting injured, falling from a height, or meeting with an accident while leaving the house.

How should you behave with sleepwalkers?

If someone in your house is sleep walking, then it is very important to keep some things in mind. The greatest caution is to never wake him up with a jerk. When woken up suddenly, the person may panic, become violent or suffer mental shock. The safest way is to gently take her by the hand and lead her back to her bed. For the safety of the house, keep the doors and windows properly locked at night and do not leave things on the floor that could collide with it and fall.

When does doctor’s advice become necessary?

If the problem of sleepwalking starts happening more than two or three times a week, it is time to visit a doctor. Additionally, if the person starts behaving violently in sleep, hurts himself or others, or feels extremely tired throughout the day, a sleep specialist should be contacted immediately. This problem can be controlled to a great extent by adopting a regular sleep routine, staying away from mobile phones and screens before sleeping and controlling stress.