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Unlike nocturnal eating syndrome when you are fully aware and remember what you ate during the night, sleep-related eating disorders can occur while sleepwalking, causing you to eat while sleeping. You can even walk into the kitchen and prepare food and eat weird things without even knowing or remembering you did it.
1. Overview of sleep-related eating disorders
Sleep-related eating disorders are uncontrolled eating behaviors while sleeping. You may be partially or completely unaware of your behavior while preparing and eating food, with little or no recollection of these actions the next morning.
Sleep-related eating disorders are more common in women and often begin in their teens or 20s to 40s. About 1 - 3% of the general population is affected by this condition, this percentage is increased in people with eating disorders, sleep disorders, or sleepwalking. Sleep-related eating disorders may also be related to certain medications. If these problems can be controlled, this disorder can often be resolved.
Sleep-related eating disorders put you at risk of injuring yourself during food preparation or eating toxic foods. This condition can also affect your health as you gain weight and become obese from eating a lot of high carbohydrate and high fat foods.
2. Symptoms of eating disorders related to sleep
Sleep-related eating disorders are known as pseudo-insomnias (Parasomnias), which cause you to have abnormal activity or behavior while you are drowsy, asleep, or awake.
Episodes of sleep-related eating disorders that occur in the first half of the night after you have fallen asleep with symptoms such as:
Frequent or nightly uncontrolled eating and loss of consciousness when preparing and eating food during the night Little or no memory of these actions the next morning Eating high-carbohydrate and high-fat foods or an odd combination of foods May ingest toxic or inedible substances, such as frozen food, coffee grounds, cleaning solutions or cigarette butts May cause injury or danger when preparing food Not easily awakened or pulled out of the action Negatively affected to health by eating at night. Sleep-related eating disorders are not only dangerous, but also affect your health and safety. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor for help.
3. Causes of eating disorders related to sleep
Sleep-related eating disorders often occur during sleep during the "non-rapid eye movement" (Non-REM) first half of the night and are associated with transitions stimulate.
The exact mechanism of this is unknown, but sleep-related eating disorders are more common in people with a history of sleepwalking. Your risk of developing this syndrome is increased if you have:
Other sleep disorders: Sleep apnea, sleepwalking, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome. Taking sleeping pills and certain other medicines: Zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist), an antidepressant or an antipsychotic. Have a daytime eating disorder: Anorexia or bulimia Mental health disorder: Anxiety or depression Have a parent, child or sibling with a sleep-related eating disorder sleep or somnambulism Experiencing sleep deprivation Having a history of alcohol, substance abuse, or drug abuse Excessive eating during the day leads to hunger and mindless eating at night due to impaired control while sleeping.
4. Complications of sleep-related eating disorders
Not only do not eat well and sleep restlessly , sleep-related eating disorders also negatively affect you in many ways, such as:
Using kitchen equipment dangerously, falling, being cut your hand, burn, choke on, get injured from eating something inedible or toxic, or to something you're allergic to Health problems, such as weight gain, difficulty controlling diabetes or worms teeth Guilt and helplessness due to lack of control Daytime fatigue due to interrupted sleep.
5. Diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related eating disorders
To diagnose a sleep-related eating disorder you may need:
Physical exam: Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history to look for potential causes of the disorder. Eating and drinking in relation to sleep. Review your sleep habits: In addition to asking sleep-related questions, your doctor may ask you to determine your sleep-wake pattern and how sleepy you are during the day. You may also be asked to keep a sleep diary for several weeks. Information from bed partners, parents, or other family members can be helpful. Sleep polysomnography: Your doctor may recommend your sleep study by recording video. This test will monitor a variety of bodily activities while you sleep, including brain waves, breathing, heart rate, eye movements, and body movements. Some treatments include:
Discontinuing medications: You may have to stop or change medications that may be contributing to your sleep-related eating disorder. Treat other sleep disorders: Sleep-related eating disorders can be alleviated by treating sleepwalking, restless legs syndrome, or sleep apnea. Stay safe: Your doctor can recommend ways to keep you safe, as well as instruct your loved one on how to get you back to bed when unusual behavior occurs. You also need to change your sleeping habits. Medication: If other measures don't work, your doctor may prescribe medication depending on the cause of your sleep-related eating disorder. Lifestyle changes that help manage this condition include making your sleeping areas and kitchen safer to avoid injury. Alternatively, you can store commonly eaten foods in a locked refrigerator. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, getting enough sleep each night, and focusing on staying healthy, avoiding stress and alcohol will also help.
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References: mayoclinic.org, my.clevelandclinic.org, webmd.com