It is not dangerous to awaken a sleep walker, although it is common for the person to be confused or disoriented for a short time on awakening. Another misconception is that a person cannot be injured when sleep walking. Actually, injuries caused by such things as tripping and loss of balance are common for sleep walkers. Sleep walking occurs at any age, but it occurs most often in children aged 6 to 12 years old. It may occur in younger children, in adults, or in the elderly, and it appears to run in families.
Prevention Avoid the use of alcohol or central nervous system depressants if prone to sleep walking.
Avoid fatigue or insomnia , because this can instigate an episode of sleep walking. Avoid or minimize stress , anxiety , and conflict, which can worsen the condition. Usually, no further examination and testing is necessary. It may also be appropriate to undergo a psychologic evaluation to determine causes such as excessive anxiety or stress , or medical evaluation to rule out other causes. All Rights Reserved.