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    Somnambulism (Sleepwalking)

    Cardiology Image 1 Verified By Apollo Hospitals September 17, 2024

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    Somnambulism Definition

    Sleep walking or somnambulism is a common behavior disorder among children and adults which originates in deep sleep and manifests in the form of walking or indulging in a series of complex behaviors while asleep. Typically, all the action happens in deep sleep and hence, he/she may find it difficult to wake up and hence may not remember the incident once awake.

    Somnambulism Symptoms

    The symptoms are:

    • Simply waking up in the middle of deep sleep
    • Sitting up and looking around
    • Walking around the house
    • Leaving the house in deep slumber
    • Driving long distances in a state of sleep
    • Talking (somniloquy) or screaming in sleep
    • Sleepiness during the day
    • No memory of the event
    • Associated injury
    • Inappropriate social behaviour like urinating in closets

    Somnambulism Risk Factors

    The risks associated with sleep walking are:

    • Difficulty in waking up the sleepwalker
    • The dangers of not waking up a sleepwalker
    • Counter-productive retaliation in the form of physical attacks by the sleepwalker

    Somnambulism Diagnosis

    The symptoms of sleepwalking and associated triggers are the basis for the diagnosis for sleepwalking. A deeper investigation of any underlying illness is a must. There could be other factors contributing to sleepwalking – lack of sleep, fatigue, medication, stress, alcohol and the like.

    Somnambulism Treatment

    There is no clear marked treatment for this condition. Some of the general approaches are –

    • Starts with reassurance that it is a passing phase, benign by nature and will disappear.
    • Avoid any auditory, tactile and visual stimuli during the sleep cycle.
    • Improving sleep conditions and the hygiene around it may gradually eliminate the problem.
    • Medical advice has to be sought to rule out and prevent any physical injury during the sleep walking period.
    • Hypnosis and pharmacological therapies have improved the quality of sleep and helped treat this disease.

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