Sleepwalking Cause

Finding a sleepwalking cause may seem like a good way to treat this condition, but it is not always that straightforward. Sleepwalking is a condition that causes individuals to get up, while asleep, and walk around. They don't remember doing so, nor do they make a conscious decision to do so. Usually, this happens during the deeper stages of sleep.

There are many reasons for sleepwalking.

Finding the Right Sleepwalking Cause

One of the most unique things about this sleep disorder is that there are several possible causes. For most people, this condition happens as a young child and is outgrown prior to reaching adulthood; however, it can happen to adults. In all cases, finding the right treatment for this disorder often starts with understanding why it is happening.

Genetically Triggered

Doctors believe that sleepwalking is more likely in a person who has a direct relative who has sleepwalked in the past. In fact, some studies show that those with a first degree relative who has sleepwalked can be up to ten times more likely to sleepwalk. Sleepwalking also happens much more frequently in identical twins than in any other group. For this reason, doctors believe that genetics play a role in the sleep disorder, though no gene has yet been specifically linked to this disorder.

Lifestyle and Environment Causes

Strain and stress can cause the mind to do many things, including trigger the body to sleepwalk. There is evidence that suggests that those under more duress than normal are more likely to suffer from sleep problems including sleepwalking. These stresses include any number of factors:

• Insomnia or Sleep Deprivation: Those not getting enough sleep on a regular basis are more likely to suffer from sleepwalking.
• Daily Stress: Stress at home, at work, or other mental fatigue, including medical conditions, the death of a loved one, or financial strain can also trigger sleepwalking, especially if the individual has a genetic predisposition for it.
• Irregular Sleep Patterns: Those who work third shift or who do not sleep about the same hours each night are also more likely to suffer from sleepwalking. This has to do with the sleep wake patterns your body relies on for regulating sleep.
• Drugs and Alcohol Abuse: Those who abuse or are addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to sleepwalk.
• Some Medications: Some prescription strength medications have been linked to sleepwalking. Hypnotics such as medications that promote sleep and stimulants such as drugs that cause increased activity have been linked to sleepwalking. In addition, those who suffer from allergies and take antihistamines may also experience it.

Pinpointing the right cause can help alleviate the sleepwalking. Often, getting on a better sleep schedule and adjusting medications is all it takes to stop this sleep problem.

Medical Conditions Causes

Some medical conditions have been found to be a cause for sleepwalking in some individuals. If you suffer from these, mention to your doctor that you are sleepwalking:

• Fever can cause an individual to sleepwalk if it is high enough, untreated and the individual is predisposed for sleepwalking genetically.
• Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to sleepwalk.
• Asthma suffers, specifically those who suffer from attacks during the evening hours, may be more prone.
• Those suffering from abnormal heart rhythms may also sleepwalk.
• Individuals who suffer from psychiatric disorders such as panic attacks, multiple personality disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder are more likely to struggle with this condition.

Finding the Cause

In most cases, no sleepwalking cause is found. Doctors may view your sleeping habits with a sleep study or have someone at home track your movements to better understand why you are struggling with this sleep problem. The concern is that you may do something that triggers a physical injury to yourself or someone else while sleepwalking. For this reason, doctors often spend a good deal of time trying to locate the reasons for your sleepwalking.

Keep a journal of what you do daily including the daily stress factors in your life. Ask a family member who has noticed the sleepwalking to keep track of episodes in the journal. Finding a correlation between your stress and your sleepwalking may be possible this way and you can narrow down your actions to find a possible cause for your sleepwalking.

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