Why is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker

Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Sleepwalkers do the strangest things. Many accounts attest to a somnambulist leaving their house clad only in underpants, or rising to cook a meal and returning to bed without so much as tasting it.

A stern warning is frequently tacked onto these tales: waking a sleepwalker could kill them. The chances of killing a sleepwalker due to the shock of sudden awakening, however, is about as likely as somebody expiring from a dream about dying.

Robynne Boyd began writing about people and the planet when living barefoot and by campfire on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. It's known as sleep inertia and it usually takes a while to orientate yourself and understand what's happening. It can then take some time to return to sleep, which is one reason waking a sleepwalker isn't routinely recommended; it cuts into their sleep time and may leave them sleep deprived by morning.

The National Sleep Foundation says sleepwalking or somnambulism is more common in young children than adults and usually becomes less frequent as they get older.

Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Everyday each week. If you have an active sleepwalker in the house, Professor Hiscock recommends taking safety measures such as locking windows and doors, removing sharp objects from the bedroom, and avoiding bunk beds for younger sleepwalkers. If a child is regularly sleepwalking and getting into potentially dangerous situations, Professor Hiscock says "scheduled awakening" may help. This means recording the time your child tends to sleepwalk — if it's consistent — or the time between them falling asleep and starting to sleepwalk.

For older children and adults, hypnosis is sometimes a helpful treatment, as is treating any co-occurring sleep problems, such as sleep apnoea or restless legs syndrome, Professor Hiscock says. This is general information only. For detailed personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner who knows your medical history. ABC Everyday helps you navigate life's challenges and choices so you can stay on top of the things that matter to you.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. ABC Everyday. If unsuccessful, just watch closely to assure their safety and try again after some time has passed. Sleepwalking rarely occurs among adults and is thought to be genetic, says Dr. It usually begins around the age of 4 and peaks around 8 years and declines into the adolescent years.

Children who have one or both parents with a history of sleepwalking also have a much higher chance of sleepwalking. In fact, 40 to 60 percent of children with one or both parents with a history of sleepwalking also sleepwalk.

It has been found that there are certain genes associated with sleepwalking.