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Why do people sleepwalk? |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that works a lot like it sounds – a sleeping person acts as if they are awake, sitting up in bed, opening their eyes, and often walking around or doing other things like moving furniture or eating food.
However, sleepwalking is distinctly different from being awake! Because a sleepwalker is asleep, they usually have a blank look on their face even though their eyes are open, and they might talk but say things that don’t make sense.
Sleepwalking is common, especially among kids, and it’s believed to run in families. Sleepwalking usually occurs during deep sleep and usually a person who has sleepwalked doesn’t even remember it!
Because many sleepwalkers are kids, it’s something that a lot of people just grow out of. But sleepwalking that persists is sometimes caused by things like anxiety or getting too little sleep. If there’s a frequent sleepwalker in your family, it’s a good idea to make the house “sleep-walk safe” by blocking off places in where a sleepwalker could be hurt. -- Sweet dreams!
The formal name for sleepwalking is a funny-sounding work: Somnambulism!
Do you know the formal (and sometimes funny-sounding) names of any other medical conditions or body functions? – One good example is the name for the growling noise your stomach sometimes makes when you’re hungry: Borborygmi! Try saying that tree times fast!!
