You’ve heard of sleep talking and sleepwalking, but there is also a sleep disorder that can cause you to eat during sleep. It can turn dangerous so here is a guide to sleep eating so you get in touch with a sleep doctor Damascus MD on time if you notice the symptoms.

Sleep Eating

Sleep eating, also known as sleep-related eating disorder or night eating, is a type of abnormal sleeping disorder, in which you can eat while you’re asleep or half awake. There is another variation of this disorder in which you can wake up in the middle of the night, eat something, and go back to sleep, but have no recollection of ever doing that come next morning. 

Sleep eating or sleep-related eating disorder is classified as parasomnia. It is not normal behavior to eat and sleep at the same time. Sleep eating is considered to be very dangerous for people too. 

Usually, when you’re asleep or not conscious of your actions thanks to your foggy mind during a snooze session, your body will not be able to function properly either. So, actions like eating in which your brain, mouth, and gut are all working together, can get halted. This can cause you to choke on your food, not being able to swallow, eat something you’re not supposed to, and even not digest it without problem, which can turn into a problem of its own. 

This is why sleep-related eating disorders are highly dangerous and it’s best that you manage them timely or have someone keep an eye on you, because a simple act like eating can turn into a nightmare, and you don’t want to know how that ends.

Causes Of Sleep Eating

There are a lot of causes of sleep eating or sleep-related eating disorders.

Existing Medication

Firstly, the drugs you’re taking routinely can cause sleep eating. There are a lot of drugs, including antidepressants and even drugs for treating your sleep disorders, that can change the brain chemistry and the overall stimulations in your brain.

This can cause your body to act erratically, which includes talking, walking, and even eating in your sleep, which is highly inconvenient and dangerous.

Other Sleep Disorders

Another thing that can cause sleep eating or sleep-related eating disorder is a whole string of sleep disorders. If you suffer from disorders like insomnia, night terrors, and even restless leg syndrome, you will experience sleep eating as a secondary symptom.

This is highly common in people who are dealing with an array of sleep and psychological disorders and this can put their minds and bodies through the wringer. This is why it’s recommended to monitor other disorders so that sleep eating doesn’t get the best of you, when you least expect it.

Genetics

Genetics can also play a huge role in what disorders you suffer from. It’s been proven that if a family member has a specific disorder and it runs in the family tree, then it’s highly likely that other family members will also suffer from the same disorder at some point in their lives.

Even though sleep eating doesn’t have a definitive cause, it is still familial and if someone in your family has it, then chances are that you will get it too. This is just how familial disorders work and you need to navigate through it to manage them. 

Symptoms Of Sleep Eating

Now that you know what sleep eating is, here are some symptoms which should prompt you to visit a sleep clinic Chevy Chase. Keep in mind that they will be different for different people so it can be a variety of these symptoms and even lapses of the same thing.

You will eat during your sleep

This is not something that you can experience per se, but if you have a sleeping partner, then chances are that they will notice you doing this.

You will have no memory of ever getting up in the middle of the night

You will feel hazy and confused and you won’t know that you scarfed down food in the dark of the night. You can only see yourself either in cameras inside the rooms for monitoring purposes or you can get the events from the person beside you. Other than that, you will have no memory.

You might eat things you’re not supposed to

This is one of the most dangerous symptoms of sleep eating. Your mind is still foggy from sleep and you’re not exactly going to make the best of decisions for your midnight munching. You might eat normal foods, but you won’t be opposed to reaching for toxic and uncooked foods either.

There have been reports of people consuming bleach, petrol, washing detergent, cigarette buds, cement, and even soil. So, you don’t exactly know what you’re eating and that is terrifying to think about. 

You will feel funny after you wake up

You will feel groggy, full as if you’ve had a bite to eat right before but have no memory, irritable, and will have a hard time focusing on things. It will take a minute for your brain to be able to look through the fog of things and you will slowly regain focus. 

Diagnosis And Treatment For Sleep Eating

Diagnosing sleep eating is really important. In a lot of the sleeping disorders, the symptoms can mesh together, if you’re not being specific with your experiences. This is why before even going into an appointment with your doctor, make sure that you’re keeping track of the events of your sleep.

Sleep Journal

A sleep journal will do wonders for you and your doctor will be able to understand the patterns of your sleep too.

Sleep Study

As for a proper diagnosis, you will be required to join a sleep study. Think of it as a night stay at the hospital, where you will sleep, but you will also be hooked to different machines that will check your brain, limbs, and overall activity. 

A sleep study is a thorough examination of your brain and body during sleep. It will tell you any and everything your body does when you’re in the middle of an episode of sleep eating. 

After the diagnosis is done, your doctor will go through the treatment and management plan. It will mainly consist of the following things:

Avoid Certain Drugs

If sleep eating is triggered by certain drugs, then the drugs can be changed or they can be completely stopped if you can make do without them.

Stress Management

Stress management is highly recommended. You will normally get a stronger episode of sleep eating or sleep-related eating disorder when you’re stressed about something. You also won’t be able to get a good night’s rest, if you’re stressed, so managing your thoughts is key.

Keep Food Items Away

Making food and other things inaccessible is important. This can be done by putting away things in a place that is out of reach. Also, you can put locks on your refrigerator and that will prevent you from reaching for food options.

Conclusion

Sleep eating is a relatively common disorder and it can occur in a lot of people. So, now you know everything, from its cause to symptoms and even how to manage it. Visit a sleep center Frederick for diagnosis and treatment.