Understanding sleepwalking: Causes, risks, and safety measures

“Those experiencing sleepwalking often have a staring, glazed expression and do not respond or communicate with others during the episode. It is difficult to ‘wake up’ the person during the episode and they often do not recall the episode the following day,” he said.

While it may appear harmless, sleepwalking is, in fact, a disorder. The expert explained that it is an “abnormal event” that happens during deep sleep (stage N3 or slow wave sleep). “These are described as non-REM parasomnia which usually happens about two hours after onset of sleep,” Dr Ramakrishnan said.

Dr Vipul Gupta, chief of neuro-interventional surgery and co-chief of stroke unit, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram explained that although the precise cause of sleepwalking is unidentified, a mix of genetic, environmental, and physiological variables is most likely to be at play. “A few of the factors can include genetics, sleep deprivation, fatigue and stress, pre-existing medical conditions, irregular sleep schedule, and brain disorders,” he said.

Further, the experts noted that sleepwalking can occasionally indicate a more serious health condition, especially if it happens frequently, or in conjunction with other sleep-related problems.

“Recurrent sleepwalking, particularly if associated with snoring, may be a symptom related to reduced oxygen levels in sleep apnea or maybe a form of seizure due to Temporal Lobe Epilepsy,” Dr Ramakrishnan said.

It may become a cause of concern if it’s very frequent (Source: Getty Images)

Other possible health issues connected to sleepwalking include the following, as shared by Dr Gupta:

*Sleep problems: Sleepwalking has been linked to sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and eating problems that are connected to sleep. Taking care of the underlying sleep issue may help lessen occurrences of sleepwalking.

*Sleep Deprivation: Chronic sleep loss or poor quality of sleep might make sleepwalking more likely. It might be helpful to manage sleepwalking by recognising and treating the causes of sleep loss.

*Sleepwalking and mental health issues including anxiety, sadness, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been connected occasionally. The symptoms of sleepwalking may be alleviated by treating the underlying mental health condition.

*Sleepwalking may occasionally be an indication of partial complex seizures. It is essential to distinguish between sleepwalking and seizures for effective therapy.

*Neurological Disorders: In some situations, neurological disorders including epilepsy or specific types of brain damage may be linked to sleepwalking. To rule out these possibilities, a complete neurological assessment could be required.

While sleepwalking can occur in both children and adults, Dr Santosh Kumar Aggarwal, senior consultant, internal medicine, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad shared that it is more common in children, particularly those aged between 4 and 8. “It may decrease as a person gets older,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Aggarwal said that it becomes a cause for concern when it poses a risk to the individual’s safety or disrupts their overall quality of sleep and daily life.

Agreeing, Dr Gupta said that while irregular and light sleepwalking episodes are rather typical, they become alarming when they happen regularly – several times each week or every night. “The intensity of sleepwalking can also vary, from risk-free behaviours to harmful ones that endanger the sleepwalker. When sleepwalkers go into unsafe locations, make an attempt to escape the house, or come into contact with potentially harmful items, there are safety issues,” he said.

He added that injury during episodes or indication of self-harm raises serious safety concerns. “Attention should be paid to cases of sleepwalking that considerably interfere with everyday life, make a person drowsy throughout the day, or disturb the sleep of the person or their bed partner. The treatment of sleepwalking is necessitated when it coexists with other sleep disorders, mental health illnesses, or neurological problems,” Dr Gupta said.

A combination of dietary changes, better sleep hygiene, and the treatment of any underlying issues that may be contributing to the disease is required to overcome sleepwalking. “The priority in managing sleepwalking is to identify early and ensure safety. Double locking the bedroom door and ensuring a safe environment (avoiding any sharp objects) are key. If there are obvious precipitating factors such as stress, sleep deprivation, it is essential to avoid these,” Dr Ramakrishnan concluded.

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