What Causes Sleepwalking?

The exact cause of sleepwalking is unknown, but evidence suggests that it may run in families. According to a 2013 study exploring sleep quality and daytime functioning in people who sleepwalk, 56.6% of participants had a family history of sleepwalking. A 2015 study found that children are three times more likely to be sleepwalkers if one of their parents had a history of sleepwalking. The likelihood is seven times more if both parents had a sleepwalking history.

Other factors that may influence a person to have sleepwalking episodes include:

• Medications

Some medications like sleep-inducing drugs may trigger a sleepwalking episode. According to an article published in Sleep Medicine Reviews, four classes of drugs may induce sleepwalking. These classes of drugs are:

• Benzodiazepine receptor agonists and other gamma-aminobutyric acids (GABA) modulators (like Xanax, Valium, or Ambien).

• Antidepressants and other serotonergic drugs

• Antipsychotics

• Beta-blockers

• Stress

Physical exhaustion, anxiety, and other forms of emotional distress may trigger sleepwalking. Stress impacts well-rested sleep, and research suggests that it also contributes to sleepwalking. According to two case reports published in the journal Clinics, emotional stress may trigger sleepwalking, and appropriate interventions for managing stress may also help treat sleepwalking.

Sleep deprivation

Not getting enough sleep may also put you at risk of sleepwalking. According to one study, insufficient sleep may trigger sleepwalking episodes in people predisposed to sleepwalking. Similarly, the MRI findings of a neuroimaging study that scanned the brains of ten adult sleepwalkers found that they exhibit abnormal daytime brain activity when sleep deprived, which may increase the risk of sleepwalking episodes.

For this reason, maintaining proper sleep hygiene may help prevent or treat sleepwalking.

• Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that happens when the upper airway falls intermittently and interrupts breathing at different intervals during sleep. It is a common sleep-related breathing disorder and is also associated with sleepwalking, unlike other forms of sleep arousal disorders, according to a study.

• Brain injury

According to a 2015 study, 30%–70% of people may experience various forms of sleep disturbances after a head injury. The study suggests that brain injury may trigger parasomnias, including sleep terrors, sleepwalking, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

• Fever

Fever or a high body temperature may also trigger sleepwalking and sleep terrors (intense fear and panic, usually followed by screaming and crying during stage 3), especially in children.

Other circumstances that may interfere with deep sleep and influence sleepwalking include sudden loud noise, an enlarged bladder (which may increase a person’s urge to urinate at night), and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Potential Risks of Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking may put the sleepwalker at risk of accidents and injury, along with having migraines, drowsiness, and fatigue during the day. According to a 2013 study, sleepwalking can potentially impair a person’s wellbeing and may cause the following:

• Self-injury or injury to bed partners or roommates during sleep

• Fatigue

• Violent behaviors during a sleepwalking episode

• Poor sleep

• Emotional distress

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

Another study suggests an association between sleepwalking and reduced pain tolerance, along with an increased frequency of chronic pain, headache, and migraine while awake.

When to Speak to a Physician

Children who sleepwalk usually outgrow this sleep disorder, and it’s usually not a cause for concern when it infrequently happens in adulthood. However, consider consulting a doctor if:

• The sleepwalking episodes happen frequently.

• It puts you at risk of injuring yourself or someone else living with you.

• It affects your sleep health.

• It starts in or continues into adulthood to check for an underlying health condition that may have triggered it.

Ideas to Reduce Sleepwalking Episodes

Sleepwalking usually goes away with time, but you can also take specific steps to reduce its frequency. Here are some tips that may work for your case:

Speak to your doctor for treatment

You may also consult a doctor about your sleepwalking, and they may prescribe medications that may help treat it. Research suggests that low doses of benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressants, and trazodone may help treat sleepwalking. Always consult your doctor before trying any new medication.

Sleepwalking may also be a sign of an underlying condition. When this is the case, treating the condition under your doctor’s supervision may also help reduce the frequency of sleepwalking episodes.

Some underlying health conditions that provoke sleepwalking include obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, fever, and a head injury.

Follow proper sleep hygiene

Sleep deprivation is a significant contributor to sleepwalking. So, to prevent a sleepwalking episode from happening, reduce how often it happens, or ultimately end it, try to follow healthy sleep habits like:

• Avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bedtime

• Staying hydrated during the day

• Limiting bright lights and screen time at night

• Maintaining a consistent sleep-wake time every day

• Getting the recommended 7 or more hours of sleep

• Exercising before evening time

• Manage stress levels

Stress may also trigger sleepwalking. Setting your daily routine in a way that helps your body effectively handle stressors is essential to reducing or eliminating sleepwalking.

Here are some self-care practices that may help you reduce your stress levels:

• Daily activity or exercise

• Go for a walk

• Practice mindfulness or meditation

• Try yoga

• Practice journaling

• Listen to music

• Spend time in nature

• Nurture your hobbies

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that may impact sleep quality and physical and mental functioning during the day. Plus, you may also be at risk of harming yourself or someone else during a sleepwalking episode. It’s essential to understand what may be triggering your case. You may speak with a doctor to help you identify your triggers and work with you to eliminate them. Following proper sleep hygiene and managing stress levels may also help reduce the frequency of sleepwalking episodes. With these tips, you can take control of your sleep health and reduce the impact of sleepwalking on your life.