Previously published in Examiner
Part 2 of the sleepwalking series
Most Montrealers complain they do not get enough sleep. Yet, sleep affects are physical and mental health. Not having enough sleep affects our mood, our stamina, our home-life and career, and our social relationships.
Sleep is an important human function which is essential for good physical health and good mental health. Even though sleep is so important many Montrealers take sleeping for granted. They either sleep too much or more often than not, sleep less than is recommended for good health. Montrealers will catnap rather than sleep, burn the midnight oil studying, play on the computer, or just insist that they are too busy too sleep.
Conditions that affect sleep, our health, and mental health include such topics as sleepwalking. For help in the Montreal area for sleep disorders you can in Montreal click here:
Mount Sinai Hospital Sleep Center
Montreal Sleep Clinic
Sleepwalking is said to occur during the first or second complete cycle of sleeping and it will manifest itself in stage 3, and 4 of these cycles. Therefore, sleepwalking never occurs during the REM or dream stage of sleep. Sleepwalkers do not remember having had these experiences, They are totally oblivious to the fact that they were sleepwalking during the night.
What will sleepwalker’s do?
Sleepwalkers may simply sit up in bed and appear to be awake when they are not. Sleepwalkers may walk around as the name implies. Sleepwalkers may go to the bathroom Sleepwalkers may do different activities such as rearranging furniture, or start cooking. It has even been recorded that sleepwalkers have actually driven a car from a few minutes to a half hour.
Common misconceptions about sleepwalking
People believe that it is dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker. That is not so, the only thing that will happen is that the sleepwalker may feel confused or disoriented until becoming fully awake.
Another misconception is that sleepwalkers can cause serious injury to themselves. Situations where sleepwalkers are driving a car or frying an egg is very rare, what can happen though, is that the sleepwalker may trip over something in their path as they are not cognizant of their surroundings. Sleepwalkers are prone to losing their balance as well.
Source
http://www.medicinenet.com/sleepwalking/article.htm