Somnambulism

Sleepwalking (or perform any other action) in the medical literature called somnambulism, and in prostorechi – sleepwalking, from late Latin lunaticus – "mad," which in turn comes from the Latin luna "Moon." This term is associated with the ideas of many ancient peoples about the impact of lunar cycles on the psyche of the person.

In this disorder people make any actions while in the dream state. It usually occurs during partial awakening from deep phase of NREM sleep (i.e., during partial awakening from deep Delta sleep, while the brain is in a state of half asleep-provodnikovaja), and the person can start to do something that is inherent in the waking state. Quite rarely it reflected the plot of the dream man. Often sleep only pushes to any habitual action. For example, a person dreams a Wake-up call, and he begins to get ready for work.

Despite the fact that it is a fairly common phenomenon (according to statistics, they suffer every fiftieth resident of our planet, of which the vast majority are children ages 4 to 10 to 16 years, which is probably due to functional immaturity of the Central nervous system), it is classified as a sleep disorder belonging to the family parasomnia.

The main causes of sleepwalking in adults usually indicate:

• chronic lack of sleep;
• acute and chronic stress;
• migraine;
• neoplastic diseases of the brain;
• neuroses;
• panic attacks;
• Parkinson's disease;
• senile dementia;
• epilepsy;
• traumatic brain injury;
• aneurysms of cerebral vessels;
• cardiac abnormalities (severe arrhythmia);
• the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome;
• pregnancy and the period of menstruation in women;
• night asthma attacks;
• diabetes mellitus (nocturnal hypoglycemia, or lower blood sugar below normal at night);
• dense dinner before going to sleep;
• poor nutrition, containing in its composition a large quantity of unrefined products, leading to deficiency of the trace mineral magnesium in the body;
• the intake of alcohol and narcotic substances;
• taking certain medicines (in particular, neuroleptics, sedatives and tranquilizers).

Children suffering from somnambulism, usually mentally absolutely healthy. Such episodes like night terrors, they happen during periods of nervous tension and anxiety.

Stories that sleepwalkers walk with their hands stretched out, zombie-like, not true, but such people, and indeed it is frozen, as if unseeing glance and their attention is hard to draw.

The myth that it is impossible to Wake up such a person, is also refuted. Revival will not cause a heart attack or a coma, although a person will experience some stress. Often advised to just take La Sonnambula back to bed so he can't harm themselves.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»