Thursday, March 29, 2012

Narcolepsy - Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

By Danilo J. Valentine


Are you currently sleeping excessively through the daytime? If yes, then you're suffering from Narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder that causes severe daytime sleepiness, fatigue, muscle weakness and frequent sleep episodes that may happen at any time.

This disorder of the central nervous system makes men and women with narcolepsy fall asleep numerous occasions throughout the day. These frequent daytime sleep attacks become a menace for sufferers, specially when they're at function, at school, or when playing a game, consuming a meal or talking to an individual. The circumstance becomes extremely harmful when a person with the disorder all of a sudden, unwillingly falls asleep whilst driving an automobile or operating other kinds of machinery.

WHAT CAUSES NARCOLEPSY? Specialists believe that Narcolepsy is actually a nervous system disorder, not a mental illness, which is triggered by low levels of a protein referred to as hypocretin.

Hypocretin, that is made within the brain, assists promote wakefulness. Lack of this chemical can lead to an inability to regulate sleep.

Even though it isn't however nicely understood what causes the lowered amount of brain neurotransmitter, some authorities think that particular variables like heredity, infections, brain injuries, and autoimmune disorders could work together to trigger low levels of this chemical.

SYMPTOMS: Additionally to the periods of extreme daytime sleepiness, Narcolepsy, also called Dyssomnia, causes other symptoms, including Cataplexy , Hallucinations and Sleep paralysis.

1. Cataplexy: It's a sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone even though awake. This muscle weakness, which outcomes inside the inability to move parts of the body or the entire body, may be triggered by robust emotions, such as laughter or anger. This sleep apnea may possibly go away seconds or minutes.

2. Hallucinations: Also referred to as vivid dream-like images, hallucinations happen whilst falling asleep or waking up. They involve seeing patterns, lights, or objects that aren't there, or hearing sounds and voices when no one has spoken, and possibly feeling bodily sensations.

3. Sleep paralysis: This condition occurs in the course of sleep onset or when waking. These brief episodes of sleep paralysis prevent an individual using the disorder from moving or speaking when he/she very first wakes up. It also takes place occasionally while falling asleep. It normally lasts within a few minutes.

Extreme drowsiness throughout the daytime is yet another typical symptom of narcolepsy. People that have narcolepsy knowledge episodes of irresistible and sudden drowsiness each and every three to 4 hours throughout the day. They could really feel an overwhelming urge to sleep, frequently followed by such unavoidable brief nap or sleep attack in which their bodies involuntarily fall asleep.

IS NARCOLEPSY HEREDITARY? Yes, Narcolepsy is believed to run in families, which indicates men and women whose close relatives have narcolepsy are at an increased risk of getting this sleep disorder themselves. While the condition normally begins in adolescence or young adulthood, it can occur at any age although.

Remedy: Sadly, no cure but exists for Narcolepsy, but professionals recommend that medicines, life style alterations, as well as other therapies can can support to control symptoms of the disorder.

For instance, eating lighter meals throughout the day, scheduling planned naps to steer clear of the prevalence of unplanned, sudden sleep attacks. Taking prescription medicines can also support Narcolepsy sufferers stay awake.




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