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1. Researchers have pinpointed only one cause of sleepwalking for sure; genetics.

2. If a parent has a history of sleepwalking, there child has a 47% chance of also having a problem with it. That number goes up to 62% if both parents have a history of sleepwalking.

3. Research also links a specific gene mutation to a higher risk of sleepwalking in people who are white.

4. Sleep deprivation: People who suffer from sleep deprivation have a higher likelihood of doing more things in there sleep.

5. Other Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders can alter your sleep cycle, making it more likely that you sleepwalk.

6. Alcohol: Alcohol before you sleep can trigger sleepwalking.

7. Mental Health: Mental health problems and diseases can lead to an increased chance of sleepwalking.

8. Thyroid conditions: Though it isn't likely, thyroid conditions can lead to more sleepwalking.

9. Brain-related diseases: Because they affect the brain stem, brain-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease can cause sleepwalking.

10. Environmental triggers: If you are already at a high risk of sleepwalking, things that might wake you up, such as illnesses or full bladders can trigger sleepwalking.

11. Studies show that medications can also trigger sleepwalking. Some are Zolpidem, Quetiapine, and Metoprolol.

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What are the symptoms of sleepwalking?

Like the name suggests, most people who sleepwalk stand up and walk around while asleep. But other activities during sleep are also possible. Sleepwalking usually involves several or all the following features:

Partial waking: You become active but don't fully wake up.

Timing: It usually happens within the first two or three hours of falling asleep.

Lack of coordination: Your movements are gangly, clumsy or awkward.

Limited awareness: You aren't fully aware of your physical surroundings or anything happening around you. Your eyes may be open, but you might not react to things in your field of vision.

Lack of memory: You don't remember what you did while sleepwalking.

Limited complex abilities: An example of this would be not being able to unlock a door because you can't access the problem-solving skills and coordination abilities you need.

Dream-acting: You might act out behaviors that line up with a dream you're having. Sometimes, people may pee (urinate) in unexpected places or talk in their sleep.

Sleep eating: You may eat things you wouldn't normally eat, like inedible items or foods high in carbs. You may find uncooked or partially cooked food in the kitchen or bed and may gain weight from the calories consumed during sleep.

While most people can't do complex activities while sleepwalking, that's not universal. In rare cases, people were even able to drive or cook while sleepwalking. And complex actions are more likely if you're sleep-deprived (especially going more than 24 hours without sleep) before the sleepwalking episode.

What causes sleepwalking?

Experts aren't sure why sleepwalking happens. The only possible sleepwalking cause that researchers can pinpoint with any certainty - at least for now - is genetics. Children of sleepwalkers are more likely to sleepwalk, too. If one parent has a history of sleepwalking, their child has a 47% chance of also doing it. That goes up to 62% if both parents have a history of sleepwalking. Research also links a specific gene mutation, HLA-DQB1*05, to a higher risk of sleepwalking in people who are white.

What are the risk factors for sleepwalking?

Several possible risk factors could make someone more likely to sleepwalk or trigger a sleepwalking episode, including:

Sleep deprivation: People who sleepwalk are more likely to do it if they don't get enough sleep. People with sleep deprivation are also able to do more complex tasks in their sleep.

Other sleep disorders: Having another sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, may make sleepwalking more likely. This might be because of how those disorders affect your sleep cycle.

Alcohol: Drinking alcohol before going to bed may affect how you sleep. That includes triggering a sleepwalking episode.

Mental health: Research links anxiety, stress, childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to an increased risk of sleepwalking.

Thyroid conditions: High thyroid activity (hyperthyroidism) can cause sleepwalking, though this isn't common.

Brain-related diseases: Degenerative brain conditions like Parkinson's disease can cause sleepwalking when they affect your brainstem. Developmental conditions like Smith-Magenis syndrome (which is rare) can also cause sleepwalking.

Environmental triggers if you're at higher risk: Things like illness with or without fever, a full bladder or sounds that wake you up may trigger sleepwalking if you're predisposed to it.

What medications can trigger sleepwalking?

Research indicates that several types of medication might trigger sleepwalking episodes. Some of the most likely medications include (but aren't limited to) the following:

If you think a medication might contribute to your sleepwalking (or sleepwalking in a loved one), it's a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider. They can review medications and determine if there's a risk.

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Sleepwalking Doesn't Have To Stop You From Resting Easy

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Sleepwalking causes someone to walk around or do things even though they're still asleep. It's usually not serious, but you should take steps to prevent injuries.

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1. Not getting enough sleep can lead to sleepwalking

2. Stress and pressure can lead to sleepwalking. Traumatic experiences and moments in life can too.

3. Fever or other common and uncommon illnesses can lead to sleepwalking even though this is very rare in people without a history of sleepwalking.

4. Sleep interruptions or sleep schedule disruptions, and travel can cause sleepwalking.

5. Sleep-disordered breathing: a group of disorders that make a person breath unusually during sleep can lead to sleepwalking.

6. Taking certain medicines such as sedatives, hypnotics, or other brain-related medicines that are used for mental health conditions can lead to increased risk of sleepwalking.

7. Unhealthy substance use, such as alcoholic drinks, or drugs that aren't taken properly can lead to sleepwalking.

8. Restless legs syndrome can make people have a higher risk of sleepwalking.

9. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and other dangerous diseases can lead to sleepwalking.

10. Genetics is a big contributor to the causes of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking appears to run through family or genes, which is how most people do sleepwalking.

11. Age is also one of the big contributors of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking usually occurs in children a lot more than adults, and if an adult does sleepwalk, it is probably because of other conditions.

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Comprehensive overview covers causes, treatment and prevention of this usually harmless sleep disorder.

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Other Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders can alter your sleep cycle, making it more likely that you sleepwalk. (Clevelandclinic.org)

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Researchers have pinpointed only one cause of sleepwalking for sure; genetics. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Not getting enough sleep can lead to sleepwalking (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Alcohol: Alcohol before you sleep can trigger sleepwalking. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health: Mental health problems and diseases can lead to an increased chance of sleepwalking. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Thyroid conditions: Though it isn't likely, thyroid conditions can lead to more sleepwalking. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Fever or other common and uncommon illnesses can lead to sleepwalking even though this is very rare in people without a history of sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Restless legs syndrome can make people have a higher risk of sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Gastroesophageal reflux disease and other dangerous diseases can lead to sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Sleep-disordered breathing: a group of disorders that make a person breath unusually during sleep can lead to sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Brain-related diseases: Because they affect the brain stem, brain-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease can cause sleepwalking. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
If a parent has a history of sleepwalking, there child has a 47% chance of also having a problem with it. That number goes up to 62% if both parents have a history of sleepwalking. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Genetics is a big contributor to the causes of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking appears to run through family or genes, which is how most people do sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Research also links a specific gene mutation to a higher risk of sleepwalking in people who are white. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Studies show that medications can also trigger sleepwalking. Some are Zolpidem, Quetiapine, and Metoprolol. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Taking certain medicines such as sedatives, hypnotics, or other brain-related medicines that are used for mental health conditions can lead to increased risk of sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Unhealthy substance use, such as alcoholic drinks, or drugs that aren't taken properly can lead to sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Stress and pressure can lead to sleepwalking. Traumatic experiences and moments in life can too. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Sleep interruptions or sleep schedule disruptions, and travel can cause sleepwalking. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Sleep deprivation: People who suffer from sleep deprivation have a higher likelihood of doing more things in there sleep. (Clevelandclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Age is also one of the big contributors of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking usually occurs in children a lot more than adults, and if an adult does sleepwalk, it is probably because of other conditions. (Mayoclinic.org)

# data[].attributes.body
Environmental triggers: If you are already at a high risk of sleepwalking, things that might wake you up, such as illnesses or full bladders can trigger sleepwalking. (Clevelandclinic.org)