Why aren't you supposed to..
 

wake someone when they are sleep walking?

I guess they could get really startled and panic?

Its just a old wives tale if you will. There is no more harm waking a sleep walker than there is waking someone who is asleep on a bed. Accept for the fact they could fall over and hurt themselves but at the same time someone could fall out a bed and hurt themselves so it isn't any different.

someone told me before its because they could have a heart attack?

I believe it is more for your own safety than theirs. They can be startled and lash out.

Incase they go into shock.

can that actually happen? cause some people say it can and some say it cant:conf:

I sleepwalk quite a lot, when I was younger and lived with my parents they only ever woke me up twice, once when I was trying to switch the cooker on and another time I was trying to unlock the front door both times I was really confused and panicky, maybe everyones different though? I'm not too sure really :laugh:

Should just guide them to the front door, open it, throw them out, then lock it.

It is not normally dangerous to wake someone sleepwalking,however, it is wiser to just guide them gently back to bed.

Clearly if woken and startled they may lash out and hurt the person waking them or fall and hurt themselves,that is why it's recommended to just guide them back to bed.

Also,where the heart attack comment comes in is naturally if they have a known heart condition, waking them is unwise as the surprise element could increase their heartbeat which in a healthy person would have little effect but to someone with a known heart problem then that could be dangerous.

oh okay thanks :)