Kicking during sleep may be linked to smoking, head injuries

Do you wake up in the morning only to find yourself on the opposite side of the bed? Or worse, does your partner frequently complain of being woken up by the sound of you talking in your sleep? If you need to be roused from vivid or animated nightmares on a regular basis because you often kick or scream in bed, you may be suffering from a rare sleep disorder brought on by smoking or an existing head injury.

According to Science Daily, a recent study by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) suggests there may be a correlation between smoking and head injuries with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a condition that causes sufferers to act out their dreams, typically by kicking, yelling or flailing out violently during sleep.

The study found that of those afflicted with RBD, 43 percent were more likely to be smokers and 59 percent were more likely to have had a previous head injury with loss of consciousness. RBD is estimated to occur in 0.5 percent of adults.

“Until now, we didn’t know much about the risk factors for this disorder, except that it was more common in men and in older people,” said study author Ronald B. Postuma, MD.

The source reports that sufferers are 50 percent more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases in the future, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

If you frequently wake up with sore joints or your partner has noted your nocturnal movements, you may want to meet with a healthcare professional to ascertain the potential underlying cause of your problem. If you smoke, he or she may be able to recommend a treatment plan or timeline to help you eliminate your habit. Your healthcare provider may also be able to screen for early signs of dementia or Parkinson’s disease.

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