Do You Sleepwalk? Chances Are Your Child Might, Too

Most of us fear the unknown. Thinking about things that lurk in the darkness tends to send feelings of anxiety and stress into overdrive. Some people avoid deep waters at all costs while others have to sleep with the night lights on. This phenomenon does not only apply to the physical world. In fact, health conditions that have eluded scientific explanations are widely feared by the general population. Aids, Zika virus, schizophrenia, and dissociative personality disorder are some perfect examples.

Sleepwalking
People who are prone to sleepwalking might not be aware of it themselves. Each episode is expected to last not more than 30 minutes and generally does not affect other parties. As a health condition, sleepwalking has yield interesting and fun results. For instance, people who sleepwalk have been known to exhibit their hidden talents. There was once a patient who created magnificent pieces of art while sleepwalking although he showed a distinct lack of artistic talent while awake. Sexual sleepwalking is also a unique condition where patients engage in sexual activities with strangers but wake up with no recollection of the events before.

This unconventional condition has also led to the birth of several myths. Many have warned against waking up a sleepwalker, fearing that it might trigger a heart attack. Others believe that sleepwalking is an independent condition that has no lasting effect on the patient. Clinical trials and experiments have conclusively dispelled these myths. It is perfectly safe to wake a sleepwalker and the effects of this condition can affect a normal lifestyle.

Hereditary Effects
Some sections of the health industry also believe that sleepwalking might possess hereditary effects. It has created such a buzz that various scientists have devoted their time and expertise to determine the credibility of this theory.

The first study identifying sleepwalking with hereditary factors was published by the British Journal of Psychiatry in 1980. The study evaluated 25 families with a history of sleepwalking and discovered that up to 80% of the families had passed on their sleepwalking condition to their younger generations. The results support the hypothesis that sleepwalking possesses a genetic disposition. However, the scientists further explained that while hereditary can influence the development of this condition, environmental factors must be taken into consideration as well.

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In addition to its findings related to sleepwalking, the scientists also examined the genetic effects of night terrors. Expanding their pool of participants to 27 families, the hereditary factor of night terrors was evident in 96% of the participants. As compared to sleepwalking, it was determined that the genetic disposition of night terrors present a more severe threat to those affected.

Between 1997 and 2011, Canadian scientists revived their interest in the hereditary effects of sleepwalking and enlisted a total of 1,940 children into the experiment. All the participants were either born in 1997 or 1998. The parents of each child are tasked to complete a questionnaire, where their individual sleep habits were recorded. Their child’s sleep habits were also detailed in the questionnaire. This scientific exercise was conducted annually from 1998 to 2011.The collective results show that almost 3 out of 10 children had experienced sleepwalking. With its prevalence dominating the latter years.

When cross-referenced with the evaluation of their parents’ sleep history, a distinct pattern became evident. If at least one parent had a history of sleepwalking, their offspring is three times more likely to develop the same condition. If both parents suffer from sleepwalking, their child would be 7 times more likely to sleepwalk as well. Throughout this experiment, scientists also discovered a subtle link between sleepwalking and sleep terrors. For parents with a history of sleepwalking, their child would be twice as likely to develop persistent sleep terrors.

Although these results support the findings made in 1980, scientists were quick to point out some of its limitations. The most obvious drawback of this experiment is the use of results derived from the questionnaire that is completed by the parents. Unlike the initial research, it was not conducted through clinical sleep laboratory tests.

Other Causes of Sleepwalking
As highlighted above, hereditary factors are not the only cause of sleepwalking. Other factors that can lead to its prevalence include:

• High stress levels
• Prolonged anxiety
• Alcohol intoxication
• Sleep deprivation
• Irregular sleep schedule

Prescribed medications and drugs can also increase the chances of sleepwalking. Sedative-hypnotics that promote sleep or relaxation, neuroleptics that are used to treat psychosis, stimulants, and antihistamines are some of the known contributors to sleepwalking.

There has also been reports that associate certain medical conditions to sleepwalking such as:

• Heart rhythm issues
• Heartburn
• Nighttime asthma / seizures
• Sleep apnea
• Fever
• Panic attacks
• Dissociative personality disorders

Conclusion
More often than not, sleepwalking is a benign condition that potentially leads to the discovery of previously unknown characteristics of individuals. As compared to other health conditions, sleepwalking is not considered an imminent threat to an individual’s life. Nonetheless, scientists have explored the characteristics of this condition to determine the factors that influence its development. Several studies have discovered that the genetic profile of sleepwalking possesses a hereditary effect. As scientists continue to explore other aspects of sleepwalking, the general population will only benefit from these discoveries. Each scientific study is a step closer to effective treatment and offers valuable insights into coping with such a condition.

References:

http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/cf/slideshows/8-facts-about-sleepwalking#slide=9
http://www.medguru.ie/healthy-living/diseases-and-conditions/interesting-facts-that-you-did-not-know-about-sleepwalking/