See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Sleepwalkers do the strangest things. Many accounts attest to a somnambulist leaving their house clad only in underpants, or rising to cook a meal and returning to bed without so much as tasting it.
A stern warning is frequently tacked onto these tales: waking a sleepwalker could kill them. The chances of killing a sleepwalker due to the shock of sudden awakening, however, is about as likely as somebody expiring from a dream about dying.
Robynne Boyd began writing about people and the planet when living barefoot and by campfire on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? There's no specific treatment for sleepwalking, but it generally helps to try to get enough sleep and have a regular and relaxing routine before bedtime.
Read about how to establish a regular bedtime routine and healthy sleep tips for children. Medicine is not usually used to treat sleepwalking. However, medicines such as benzodiazepines or antidepressants are sometimes used if you sleepwalk often or there's a risk you could seriously injure yourself or others.
These medicines can help you sleep and may reduce the frequency of sleepwalking episodes. Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy CBT or hypnotherapy may sometimes be helpful. It's important to keep the areas of your home where a person may sleepwalk free of breakable or potentially harmful objects and to remove any items they could trip over.
It's also a good idea to keep windows and doors locked. If your child sleepwalks, do not let them sleep on the top bed of a bunk bed. You may want to fit safety gates at the top of the stairs. It's also important to tell babysitters, relatives or friends who look after your child at night that your child may sleepwalk and what they should do if it happens.
Page last reviewed: 05 October Next review due: 05 October Why some people sleepwalk The exact cause of sleepwalking is unknown, but it seems to run in families.
The following things can trigger sleepwalking or make it worse: not getting enough sleep stress and anxiety infection with a high temperature, especially in children drinking too much alcohol taking drugs certain types of medicine, such as some sedatives being startled by a sudden noise or touch, causing abrupt waking from deep sleep waking up suddenly from deep sleep because you need to go to the toilet Other sleep disorders that can cause you to frequently wake up suddenly during the night, such as obstructive sleep apnoea and restless legs syndrome , can also trigger a sleepwalking episode.
What happens when a person sleepwalks In some episodes of sleepwalking, a person may just sit up in bed and look around, briefly appearing confused. What to do if you find someone sleepwalking The best thing to do if you see someone sleepwalking is to make sure they're safe. I once had the shock of being woken by a crash and found myself in the kitchen, standing barefoot and surrounded by broken glass.
So waking a sleepwalker will not cause them to have a heart attack or put them into a coma, but the kindest thing to do is not to try to wake them at all. Lead them gently back to bed so that they do not hurt themselves. They will remain deeply asleep, and it is likely that they will not remember a thing in the morning.
If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. Disclaimer All content within this column is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.
The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this site. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health. Medical Myths Human body. Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker? Share using Email. By Claudia Hammond 22nd February You are always told not to wake a sleepwalker, but is there any truth in that?
Claudia Hammond sorts myth from reality.
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