Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker?

Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker?

Sunday, December 20, 2015 updated the Monday, December 21, 2015

We often hear that it is risky to leave a sleepwalker in their dream state – is that a myth or reality?

17% of children and 4% of adults suffer from sleepwalking*. The causes of this sleep disorder remain poorly known – essentially stress, certain medications (including psychotropic drugs) or genetics could be the cause and/ or exacerbate the problem. Still, we do not really know how to deal with a sleepwalker. The first reaction may be to wake him out of his dream, but we have all heard that you should never wake him, which is only half true.

ARE SLEEPWALKERS VIOLENT?

Contrary to the claims of the urban legend, no sleepwalker has ever died because they’ve been woken up while wandering in pajamas. Indeed, the risk of myocardial infarction, clots or other cardiovascular events do not increase during sleepwalking episodes. In contrast, the number of accidents or falls is obviously higher. If there is no choice, we must awaken the person to prevent such accidents. But be careful to do it gently as people may be surprised or frightened when they’ve been suddenly disturbed from their sleep. This explains certain aggressive reactions.

The best solution remains to guide the sleeper back to bed (usually he will listen to you) and put in place the conditions that guarantee maximum security. For example it is advisable to remove all sharp objects. If the sleepwalker tends to leave the room, it’s better lock the door and windows if necessary. However, these provisions can be dangerous, especially in case of fire so it remains up to you to judge whether they are necessary or not.

Source: Carroll, Aaron; Vreeman, Rachel. Do not Swallow Your Gum: Myths Debunked And Other Medical, Penguin Books and INSERM.

Maureen Diament