If you have a spouse, roommate or child who routinely sleepwalks, you know how concerning it can be to realize that the walking, talking person you’re interacting with is actually sound asleep.
While sleepwalking may be unsettling, it’s rarely a cause for medical concern. The biggest issue is ensuring that someone who sleepwalks stays safe. Here’s what you need to know if you have a sleepwalker in your home.
What Is Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking is a type of parasomnia—abnormal behaviors that take place during sleep. “Sleepwalking is a non-REM parasomnia that almost always occurs during the deepest phase of non-rapid eye movement sleep, called slow wave sleep,” explains Alok Sachdeva, M.D., a sleep disorders specialist at Henry Ford Health.
People who sleepwalk may move around the house, engage in activities (like eating), talk or get dressed. But they don’t know what they’re doing and will likely have no memory of it when they wake up.
“Sleepwalking tends to occur in the first third of the night,” says Dr. Sachdeva. “Sleepwalkers typically move slowly, and even though their eyes are open, they look glazed over or have an unfocused stare.”
What Causes Sleepwalking?
Sleep experts still don’t understand exactly what causes some people to sleepwalk, but there are factors that may increase the risk of this sleep disorder. These include:
- Alcohol use
- Disruption of circadian rhythms (such as time changes or shift work)
- Genetics (sleepwalking tends to run in families)
- Medications (such as sleep aids)
- Sleep deprivation
- Stress
Age is also a big factor in sleepwalking. “It is significantly more common in children than in adults,” says Dr. Sachdeva. “And most children outgrow it by the time they hit adolescence.”
Should You Wake a Sleepwalker?
Sleepwalking episodes are generally short—lasting only about 1 to 5 minutes. “If you are aware that someone is sleepwalking, it’s usually best to gently guide them back to bed without waking them,” says Dr. Sachdeva.
If you must wake them, it’s important to do it very gently. “Waking someone who is sleepwalking can really startle or provoke them,” warns Dr. Sachdeva.
Sleep Medicine at Henry Ford Health
How to Keep a Sleepwalker Safe
If you live with a sleepwalker of any age, the most important thing is keeping them safe. Sleepwalkers can injure themselves by falling downstairs or out a window, going outdoors, eating or even driving.
Some precautions you can take to make your home safer for a sleepwalker include:
- Keeping car keys in a secure spot
- Having them sleep in a ground-floor bedroom if possible
- Locking doors and windows
- Moving their mattress to the floor
- Removing obstacles from the bedroom floor
- Using bed or door alarms to wake someone who sleepwalks (or alert parents of a child who sleepwalks)
When to See a Doctor About Sleepwalking
“If you’re concerned about safety or long-term prognosis, it’s always a good idea to consult your primary care doctor, pediatrician or a sleep doctor,” says Dr. Sachdeva.
While most children outgrow sleepwalking without treatment, adults may benefit from intervention. “Sometimes there are other underlying issues that we can address, such as sleep apnea,” he adds.
Your doctor can assess symptoms and risk factors that may contribute to sleepwalking. If necessary, they may recommend a sleep study to help determine what’s causing these nighttime episodes.
Reviewed by Alok Sachdeva, M.D., a sleep disorders specialist who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center – Bloomfield Township.
