Why do people sleep walk?!

Sleepwalkers have some knowledge about their activities only when woken up from that state by some other person. Often, sleepwalkers may not always remember the activities carried out by them during this state. Sleepwalkers are thus least conscious about their actions due to their dream stage. Studies have revealed a sleepwalker may dance, bathe, drive, eat, change clothes, walk in the outdoors and demonstrate many such behaviors in the state of sleep. This state can thus cause harm to the sleepwalker as well.

Sleepwalking – Explanation

There is a ‘sleep center’ present in the brain which controls the sleeping and the waking of the body. When you sleep, the sleep center blocks of a part of the brain so that it goes to sleep and does not perform any action and it also blocks off certain nerves that brings in the messages to the brain thereby allowing your body to go to sleep.

Generally, the sleep center and the body is connected but at times they can separate. Under such conditions, while the brain goes to sleep, the body remains awake. The people suffering fro this condition sit up in their sleep or stand near the bed. Some even go about for a stroll but do not remember this incident later.

Sleepwalking - Causes

It is important to understand that sleepwalking is not associated with any form of sleeping disorders, fear of darkness and anger outbursts. Some of the factors that can cause sleepwalking are as follows:
?Genetics: Sleepwalking in an individual is ten times more likely if a first degree relative has had a history of sleepwalking. Also, it occurs more frequently in identical twins. Hence, it has been concluded that sleepwalking can be inherited.
?Medical Conditions: Some of the conditions that can cause sleepwalking are fever, arrhythmia, asthma during the nighttime, seizures during the nighttime and sleep apnea. It can also be caused due to some psychiatric disorders like multiple personality disorder, panic attack and stress disorder.
?Environmental Factors: Several environmental factors that can induce sleepwalking are stress, alcohol intoxication, sleep deprivation or chaotic sleep schedules, hypnosis and several drugs like sedatives and antihistamines.
Sleepwalking – Possible Forms of Treatment

Fortunately, children outgrow from the disorder as they grow a little order. However, people suffering from severe sleepwalking disorder can take the following precautions/treatments:
?The bedroom of the patient should be located on the ground floor and the possibility of the patient opening a door or a window should be eliminated. Further, any hazardous materials from the room must be removed.
?The patient must stick to a sleep-wake cycle which will help eliminate any possibilities of sleep deprivation which can trigger an episode of sleepwalking.
?A full bladder may also trigger an episode of sleepwalking and hence fluids should be avoided before bedtime.
?Tying a bell to the door of the sleepwalker is a good idea as it will help alert the family.
?Hypnosis is known to have helped a lot of people suffering from the disorder. You can evaluate as to how helpful this form of treatment is for your child by discussing the case with a reputed hypnotist.
?Medication too helps in reducing the incidents of sleepwalking. Consult a good doctor for a prescription.
Sleepwalking Facts

Here are some interesting sleepwalking facts:
?The good news for some people is that if it starts at an early age then the disorder disappears as the child grows older. If the disorder begins when the child is very young then the disorder ends when the child is approximately 13.8 years old. However, if a child begins to sleepwalk at the age of 9, then the disorder usually lasts into adulthood.
?Boys are more prone to the sleepwalking disorder when compared to girls.
?Medical reports show that about 18% of the population worldwide suffers from sleepwalking disorders.
?The sleepwalking starts about an hour and half after the individual has gone to sleep.
?The episodes of sleepwalking can last for a few seconds or can extend to more than half an hour.
?Frequent incidents of sleepwalking can cause health problems as it disturbs the normal sleeping pattern.
Avoid someone who is sleepwalking as it may frighten them. Try to gently lead them back to their bed and sleep again. It is important to seek treatment if you find that the incidents are not reducing.

Hope this helps :)

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sleepwalk…

It's just natural for some people. If you talk to a sleep doctor about it, you can find out if there actually is a method to stop it.

Some recent work suggests that the tendency is genetic.

GP for more years than I care to remember