Diagnosis & symptoms
A doctor may ask a patient’s sleep partner about this activity to help with diagnosis, as the sleepwalker will not remember it.
Observing the sleepwalker’s behavior
This genre of study suggests that sleepwalking may come from one's parents
Genetics
This common complication of surgery involves a collection of blood outside a blood vessel.
What is a hematoma?
This type of therapy is often used for anxiety but has also shown benefits in reducing sleepwalking episodes.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
This myth warns that if you do this to a sleepwalker, they could suffer from a heart attack, brain damage or even die
Waking them up
This sleep study may be ordered to track brain waves, oxygen levels, and movements during sleep to rule out other disorders.
polysomnography
This other sleeping disorder is also associated with the causation to sleepwalking
Narcolepsy
This potentially life-threatening complication occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
Type of medical test that may be done when sleepwalking is frequent or unusual to rule out seizures or other disorders.
Polysomnography (sleep study)
Pop culture often depicts sleepwalkers with this oddly specific posture.
Walking with arms straight out in front
This parasomnia, or disruptive sleep disorder, often occurs alongside sleepwalking, especially in children.
sleep terrors
This other word for “drugs/alcohol” is known for increasing the risk of sleepwalking
Depressant
This condition, often abbreviated as AKI, involves a sudden decline in kidney function.
What is acute kidney injury?
This class of drugs, including fluoxetine and sertraline, is commonly used to treat depression and anxiety.
What are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)?
Contrary to the myth that sleepwalking means someone is “acting out their dreams” it actually occurs during this stage of sleep
Slow-wave/deep NREM sleep
While sleepwalking, an individual may perform this complex and dangerous activity, which can lead to serious injury.
Driving a car
Sleepwalking particularly effects this group of people
Children
This postoperative infection of the abdominal cavity is a serious complication of bowel surgery.
What is peritonitis?
The prognosis for Hodgkin lymphoma is generally favorable with early detection and treatment using this combination of chemotherapy and radiation.
What is ABVD chemotherapy and radiation therapy?
Even though it is often assumed that sleepwalking stops in childhood, studies showed that adults may still experience it when triggered by these two factors.
Stress and sleep deprivation
This symptom usually occurs after the sleepwalking itself
Amnesia
These medications can actually increase the risk of sleepwalking
Antidepressants / sedatives
This severe inflammatory response to infection can lead to organ failure and death if not treated promptly.
What is sepsis?
This chronic autoimmune disease has a variable prognosis but can be managed with DMARDs like methotrexate and biologics such as TNF inhibitors.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
A stereotype says that sleepwalkers always leave their beds but episodes may actually involve these subtle behaviors.
Sitting up, talking or fumbling with objects