How dangerous is sleepwalking?

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Sleepwalkers go on night tours while others are napping. This occurs especially when sleep pressure rises. When you sleepwalk, some areas of your brain are in deep sleep, while others are awake. In other words, you can even perform complex actions. This is exactly why there is a certain danger in sleepwalking. “It becomes risky when you get up and walk around. In such a situation, you could fall or do other dangerous things,” warns Marc Spielmanns, 57, medical director of the Zürcher Oberland Center for Sleep Medicine at GZO Spital Wetzikon.

Some sleepwalkers even leave the apartment, cross the street, or fall out of the window. However, such cases are rare. According to the sleep expert, the most common forms of sleepwalking are sitting or fidgeting in bed. There would be no need to worry.

reduce hazards

If you tend to perform complex actions while sleepwalking, you should weigh the possibility of danger. “Securing the window is recommended in certain situations,” says the expert. If there are dangerous stairs in the house, the room door should be locked for safety. According to Spielmanns, it’s best to clean any sharp objects you can run over.

If you do hit a sleepwalker, you should never wake him up: “Hold his hand and carefully escort him to bed,” says Spielmanns.

coping with sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is especially common in childhood. According to the Spielmanns, between 15 and 30 percent of all children are sleepwalkers. “This is presumed to be related to brain maturity. Once they reach adulthood, this phenomenon usually disappears,” explains Spielmanns.

Sleepwalking in adults is often associated with stress. Medications, drugs, and alcohol can also trigger sleepwalking. “If sleepwalkers are taking medication, they should talk to a doctor about it and possibly change medication,” says the sleep specialist. In stressful situations, talk therapy often helps reduce stress. Relaxation methods such as progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training can also have positive effects.

Sleepwalking is usually only one stage of life and should go away on its own over time. Still, Spielmanns recommends clarifying everything with an expert. “There are a number of other disorders in which movements during sleep can also occur. For this reason, they are often confused with sleepwalking. This applies to diseases such as dementia, anxiety disorders, depression and psychoses,” explains Spielmanns.

Source : Blick