Why does someone sleep walk

You should call for a grown-up who can gently steer the person back to bed. And after the sleepwalker is tucked back in bed, it's time for you to get some shut-eye too! 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. 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. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorders.

Arlington, Va. Accessed May 9, National Sleep Foundation. Accessed May 10, American Academy of Family Physicians.

Merck Manual Professional Version. Sateia M. International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Darien, Ill. Kotagal S. Sleepwalking and other parasomnias in children. Foldvary-Schaefer N. If you want to decrease your daily stress levels so you can rest at night, you may want to try stress-reduction techniques such as these:.

Researchers who studied MRI brain scans of people with a history of sleepwalking found that being sleep-deprived increased the number of sleepwalking episodes people experienced. If you have chronic migraine , you may be more vulnerable to sleepwalking. In , a group of sleep scientists interviewed patients who routinely sleepwalk, and found a strong association between sleepwalking and lifelong headaches, particularly migraine.

Fevers can also cause night terrors , which are sleep disturbances during which you might scream, thrash your arms about, or try to escape from fearful things you perceive in your sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes you to stop breathing for short periods while you sleep. Among other things, severe sleep apnea can lead to daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. If you have severe obstructive sleep apnea, your likelihood of sleepwalking is higher than people with mild sleep apnea. There have also been reports of sleepwalking among children who have asthma.

Asthma can lead to sleep deprivation, and the medication montelukast has triggered sleepwalking in some children. If you have GERD , the contents of your stomach can come back up through your esophagus, causing uncomfortable burning sensations.

For many people, symptoms are worse at night. People with GERD and other gastric disorders are more prone to many kinds of sleep disorders, including sleepwalking.

Because GERD interferes with sleep, it can cause long-term exhaustion, which also makes you more vulnerable to sleepwalking episodes. As the disease progresses, it can affect parts of the brain stem that control movement as well as parts of the brain that control sleep. Normally, when you dream during REM sleep, your brain temporarily paralyzes some muscles to keep you from acting on your dreams and hurting yourself or others in the process.

This, in turn, may lead to sleepwalking and other sleep disturbances. Some studies indicate that people with RLS are no more likely to sleepwalk than other people. Other studies point to a connection between sleepwalking and the medications used to treat restless leg syndrome. Some sleep medications have caused people to sleepwalk, including the sleep-inducing drug zolpidem , which is also sold under the names Ambien and Edluar.

Other medications linked to sleepwalking include:. People who are sleepwalking usually do not respond when you try to get their attention. They may have a glazed or distant look in their eyes. Most of the time, people do not remember an episode of sleepwalking when they wake up. Although most episodes of sleepwalking end without injury, sleepwalking can be quite dangerous. In one study involving patients with a history of repeated sleepwalking, Injuries were the result of accidents like falling down the stairs, or bumping into objects like walls or furniture.