Sleep Apnea Causes Sleep Walking and Hallucinations?

June 17, 2009

Most of us think of sleep walking or sleep eating as strange, but separate and distinct from obstructive sleep apnea, but a recent study showed that in a group of people with obstructive sleep apnea, almost 10% had one or more of the parasomnias (sleep walking, sleep eating, sleep hallucinations and paralysis, etc.). This is not too surprising since having apneas can cause confusion in the transitions from one sleep stage to another. Another study from 2005 showed that in young men who sleep walked, the majority had a sleep-breathing disorder. When they were treated with either CPAP or surgery, the sleepwalking was completely controlled.

Do you ever sleep walk or eat at night without knowing it? Do you ever feel like you’re paralyzed and you can’t breathe as you’re about to fall asleep or when you’re about to wake up?

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | 2 Comments