Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that is fairly common in the US, affecting an estimated 200,000 people. This is a disorder that often goes undiagnosed, and when it is diagnosed, it is only after many years of illness. Humans and animals can both be affected by narcolepsy. Narcolepsy was first described in Germany in the year 1877 by a man named Westphal. Gelineau first labeled the disorder "Narcolepsy" in the year 1880. The onset of the symptoms usually occurs in the teen years and early twenties. Men and women are both equally likely to have this disorder. About half of Narcolepsy cases occur because of severe psychological stress or altered sleeping schedules, and about 40% of people suffering from narcolepsy have mental disorders. .
The most outstanding symptoms of Narcolepsy are excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal REM sleep. Narcoleptics cannot control when they fall asleep, and attacks may occur at any time. Just before falling asleep between 40-50% of Narcoleptics experience hallucinations, affecting both vision and hearing. 30-50% go through sleep paralysis, an upsetting event considered to be an abnormal episode of sleep atonia, where the patient is unable to speak or move and has difficulty breathing. Cataplexy is a symptom unique to Narcolepsy, and is triggered by emotions. The patient experiences a sudden and striking episode of muscle weakness, causing problems from a slackened jaw to a complete body collapse. Once asleep, patients go immediately into REM sleep, dreaming almost instantly. Narcoleptics are also more liable to sleepwalk, bed wet, clench their jaws and grind their teeth.
The diagnosis of Narcolepsy can be quite simple, but it all depends on how many of the symptoms are present and can be easily observed. A nocturnal polysomnogram, followed by the multiple sleep latency test. Before polysomnographic testing is performed, a minimum two-week withdrawal period from any drugs with side effects that disrupt sleep is usually required; these include alcohol, antidepressants, narcotics, and other medications.
This is what a person with narcolepsy has to go through everyday of their life. ... Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder with no known cause. The main trait of narcolepsy is excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness. ... A diagnosis is pretty easy when all the symptoms of narcolepsy are present. ... The people whom are around a person with narcolepsy should know the symptoms of narcolepsy. ...
Narcolepsy affects 0.02%-0.04% of the general population in most countries affecting both genders[ CITATION DSM13 l 1033 ]. ... Narcolepsy can co-occur with bipolar, depressive and anxiety disorders. Three insightful articles will offer interesting facts and studies on narcolepsy. ... The study performed olfactory testing on 20 patients with narcolepsy associated with RBD and in 20 narcolepsy patients who had no history of RBD. ... Modafinil is an effective treatment for daytime sleepiness due to narcolepsy. ...
Narcolepsy Abstract Sleep is an essential part of our lives. ... One such sleep disorder is narcolepsy, this disorder is a bit different from most disorders that disallow sleep, with narcolepsy you have no control of your sleep. ... Narcolepsy is characterized by sudden extreme spells of sleepiness. ... The third and final symptom of narcolepsy is called sleep paralysis. ... Now that we know about the symptoms of narcolepsy, it is important that we further define the disorder itself and explore the roots of narcolepsy. ...
(Discover 78) Beau is a dog suffering from narcolepsy. ... Narcolepsy doesn't affect just animals but humans as well. ... A study that further supports this is the study of narcolepsy involving identical twins. In 75% of the cases in which one twin had a case of narcolepsy, the other was unaffected. ... (Discover 81) It would also take a trigger like stress or a virus to cause narcolepsy. ...
(Discover 78) Beau is a dog suffering from narcolepsy. ... Narcolepsy doesn't affect just animals but humans as well. ... A study that further supports this is the study of narcolepsy involving identical twins. In 75% of the cases in which one twin had a case of narcolepsy, the other was unaffected. ... (Discover 81) It would also take a trigger like stress or a virus to cause narcolepsy. ...
Narcolepsy To understand narcolepsy we first must understand what a sleep disorder is. ... About one in 2,000 people suffers from narcolepsy. ... Thus, narcolepsy is a disorder in which REM sleep appears at an abnormal time. ... Narcolepsy has four classic symptoms: • cataplexy. ... Someone with narcolepsy may have many symptoms or very few symptoms. ...
Narcolepsy is a disease that has been on the receiving end of many jokes in our society. ... She revealed that her case of narcolepsy wasn't that bad, but without the Ritalin she would just fall asleep anywhere. ... Narcolepsy is a chronic disease, but not a progressive one. ... This, they say, indicates that environmental conditions are important in human narcolepsy. ... They feel that narcolepsy may be an auto-immune disease, in that the body turns against one of its own tissues are cell types. ...
(Zimbardo pg.98) The three types of sleep disorders are: insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea. ... (Zimbardo pg. 99)Doctors can treat sleep apnea with a "device that pumps extra air into the lungs and jeeps the airway open during sleep." ( Zimbardo PG.99) Narcolepsy is a symptom where you suddenly fall asleep without warning. ... Oddly anything exciting causes a narcoleptic attack "(Zimbardo Pg.99) It is described as a "disorder of REM sleep involving sudden REM sleep attacks accomplished by cataplexy"(Zimbardo pg.99) Cataplexy is a second symptom of narcolepsy. ... Narcolepsy is a disorder...
