Western Wake Pediatrics

A night terror can be as simple as the individual session in bed, eyes bulging with fear, and cries. It can be as dangerous as a child bolting through the window of a closed window. Night terrors occur, not because of a dream, but because the individual is stimulated in a state somewhere between sleep and waking. He or she can neither fully awake or go back to sleep. In children, night terrors often disappear if they are allowed to take their course. In adults, they generally require care. By following a few simple steps, night terrors can often be minimized in children and adults. The following guidelines are a good place to start. Night terrors do not represent serious medical or psychological problems. Treated with understanding and care, they are likely to subside.

Maintain a regular sleep schedule: A strict timetable of sleep and wakefulness is the best insurance against night terrors for all individuals who suffer. In children, this advice is particularly important, says Richard Ferber, MD, director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital and assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "If I ask parents:" How can you tell when your child has a night terror? The most common response is "when the child is tired," he said.

Ensure safety in the environment: If you or someone in your household violent experiences night terrors, it is wise to make the security environment to protect the sleeper against injury, "said Lee 1. Brooks, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital, University Hospital of Cleveland. For example, keep sharp objects out of the room, put locks on the windows, and keep the space above the ground (to avoid tripping over objects). Do not allow children with night terrors to sleep on the top bunk of a bunk bed. It may also be prudent to have the individual sleep on the first floor of the house, if possible. If the episodes seem excessively violent, it is best to consult a doctor, "said Brooks.

Avoid alcohol and drugs / alcohol, which tends to make sleep worse, can make people vulnerable are more likely to night terrors, according to Brooks. Illegal drugs such as marijuana, also change the structure of normal sleep and may act as triggers, "said Ernest L. Hartmann, MD, professor of psychiatry at Tufts University and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, both in Boston.

Limit fluids before withdrawing: Anything that disrupts a susceptible individual during sleep is likely to make a night terror. A throbbing, full bladder is no exception. Brooks fluids advises limiting the afternoon and evening to avoid this problem.

Do not try to Wake The Sleeper: agitation or stimulate a person with a night terror is not recommended because you will probably not be able to wake up and can make them more agitated and even violent, "said Ferber. You can even be hurt if the sleeper sees your actions as an attack.

Remain calm and quiet: If you are a witness to the terror by night, talk to the sleeper in soft and calm and try to bring him or her back to bed, Ferber advises. Should your efforts fail, just give the sleeper of the space and move objects on how to prevent injuries.

Learn the triggers and avoid them: "Many parents report that children tend to have night terrors in the first two hours of sleep," says Mark Mahowald, MD, president of the American Association of Sleep Disorders and director of MN Regional Sleep Disorders Center at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. "They know the sound or light stimulation can cause one to occur. For this reason, they do not close the bedroom door of the child, the coverage of the child, or turn off the lights.