Jovica Veljanovski, M.D.

Eric wandered into his household kitchen slightly after 12:30 a.m.

He opened the refrigerator to obtain sliced ham and cheese along with mayonnaise to place on nearby wheat bread slices. Eric enjoyed his midnight snack.

The catch? Eric does not recall this dining experience.

Why? He was sleepwalking.

Eric commented, “From my numerous sleepwalking experiences, I find they are not always the same.”

According to a Standford University study, about 3.6 percent of American adults annually sleepwalk. This equates to over eight million people.

Jovica Veljanovski, M.D., a sleep specialist with Detroit’s Henry Ford Health states, “The clinical condition of sleepwalking is known as somnambulism.”

He added, “The condition falls under the broad category of parasomnia and occurs during non-rapid eye movement sleep, specifically under a stage known as deep sleep. Sleepwalking tends to be more common in children, and most outgrow this complex sleep behavior by their teenage years. However, it can persist into adulthood for some individuals.”

Causes of Sleepwalking

According to the Seattle, Washington-based Sleep Foundation and Dr. Veljanovski, the following are noted as typical causes of sleepwalking:

Genetics and family history: Studies show a clear pattern in which certain people are genetically predisposed to sleepwalking. Studies note 47 percent of children sleepwalk if one parent has a history of it, and 61 percent of children sleepwalk if both parents do.

Sleep deprivation: A lack of sleep has been correlated with an elevated risk of sleepwalking, which may be due to more time spent in deep sleep after a period of sleep deprivation.

Medications: Sedative hypnotics like Ambien, Lunesta and others have been linked to sleepwalking, sleep driving and engaging in other activities while not fully awake. If detected these medications need to be immediately stopped.

Alcohol: Drinking alcohol in the evening can create instability in a person’s sleep stages and may heighten the risk of sleepwalking.

Brain injury: Conditions that affect the brain, including swelling of the brain.

Fever: In children, fever has been found to make sleepwalking more likely, and it may be related to an increased number of illness-driven arousals during the night

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the airway gets blocked, causing short lapses in breath during sleep. These pauses, which can occur dozens of times per night, create sleep interruptions that may give rise to sleepwalking.

Restless Leg Syndrome is a type of sleep disorder that causes a powerful urge to move the limbs, especially the legs, when lying down prior to going to sleep. It causes nighttime arousals from which a person may enter into a sleepwalking episode.

Stress: Stress can be physical, such as pain or emotional. Some types of stress may be related to discomfort or change such as when traveling and sleeping in an unfamiliar place.

Sleepwalking Symptoms

Dr. Veljanovski, the Sleep Foundation, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine cite the following symptoms and complex behaviors of a sleepwalker:

Getting out of bed and walking around.

When they physically leave the bed.

Having a glazed, glassy-eyed expression.

Not responding or talking to others.

Be challenging to wake up.

Be confused for a short time after waking up.

Not remember they sleepwalked.

Have problems functioning during the day because of disturbed sleep.

Research studies also indicate sleepwalkers can or do experience the following:

Do routine activities, such as getting dressed, talking or eating.

Leave their residence.

Drive a vehicle or other motorized machinery.

Take part in unusual behavior, such as passing urine in a closet.

Take part in sexual activity without being aware. The clinical term for this is sexsomnia.

Become injured, such as by falling down the stairs or jumping out a window.

Become violent while briefly confused after waking up or once in a while sleepwalking.

How to Interact with a Sleepwalker

“If you live with a sleepwalker, do your best to gently guide them back to bed and not yell or scream to startle them,” Dr. Veljanovski said. “Typically, you want to allow them to walk freely and safely as you try to get them back to bed before they may injure themselves. If left alone, they may fall down the stairs, walk outside of their homes or participate in other potentially life-threatening behaviors.”

Dr. Veljanovski continued, “Your best defense is to maintain a safe environment. Lock doors, keep knives or other sharp objects secured, as well as firearms, and use a home alarm system so you’re quickly notified if the person tries to walk outside.”

Treatment Options

Dr. Veljanovski recommends maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding sleep deprivation to manage sleepwalking. Identifying and eliminating potential triggers, such as certain medications and alcohol, is also crucial. In addition, identifying and addressing any comorbid sleep disorders. Medications like clonazepam are typically reserved for patients at higher risk of serious injury.

He concluded, “Consult a local sleep specialist for professional evaluation and treatment if you experience sleepwalking.”

Should you care to learn more about sleepwalking – visit www.sleepfoundation.org, www.henryford.com, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine at www.aasm.org.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the Secretary of the Navy. He grew up near the tip of the mitt and resides in suburban Detroit.