Sunday, January 29, 2012

Narcolepsy - Symptoms, Causes And Remedy

Narcolepsy - Symptoms, Causes And Remedy


by Danilo J. Valentine


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

This disorder of the central nervous technique makes people with narcolepsy fall asleep various occasions throughout the day. These frequent daytime sleep attacks become a menace for sufferers, specifically when they are at function, at school, or when playing a game, consuming a meal or talking to a person. The situation becomes incredibly risky when somebody using the disorder all of a sudden, unwillingly falls asleep whilst driving an automobile or operating other kinds of machinery.

WHAT CAUSES NARCOLEPSY? Experts believe that Narcolepsy can be a nervous system disorder, not a mental illness, that is triggered by low levels of a protein called hypocretin.

Hypocretin, which is produced in the brain, helps promote wakefulness. Lack of this chemical can lead to an inability to regulate sleep.

Although it isn't but properly understood what causes the lowered amount of brain neurotransmitter, some experts think that specific aspects like heredity, infections, brain injuries, and autoimmune disorders may possibly work together to cause low levels of this chemical.

SYMPTOMS: In addition to the periods of extreme daytime sleepiness, Narcolepsy, also named Dyssomnia, causes other symptoms, which includes Cataplexy , Hallucinations and Sleep paralysis.

1. Cataplexy: It truly is a sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone even though awake. This muscle weakness, which outcomes in the inability to move parts of the body or the whole body, could be triggered by strong emotions, including laughter or anger. This sleep apnea may possibly go away seconds or minutes.

2. Hallucinations: Also known as vivid dream-like images, hallucinations occur while falling asleep or waking up. They involve seeing patterns, lights, or objects that are not there, or hearing sounds and voices when no one has spoken, and possibly feeling bodily sensations.

3. Sleep paralysis: This condition happens during sleep onset or when waking. These brief episodes of sleep paralysis stop an individual using the disorder from moving or speaking when he/she very first wakes up. It also takes place at times although falling asleep. It generally lasts inside some minutes.

Extreme drowsiness throughout the daytime is yet another frequent symptom of narcolepsy. Individuals who have narcolepsy knowledge episodes of irresistible and sudden drowsiness every single 3 to four hours through the day. They could really feel an overwhelming urge to sleep, often followed by such unavoidable short nap or sleep attack in which their bodies involuntarily fall asleep.

IS NARCOLEPSY HEREDITARY? Yes, Narcolepsy is believed to run in families, which indicates individuals whose close relatives have narcolepsy are at an elevated risk of having this sleep disorder themselves. Even though the condition normally begins in adolescence or young adulthood, it can occur at any age though.

Treatment: Sadly, no remedy however exists for Narcolepsy, but authorities recommend that medicines, life-style modifications, as well as other therapies can can help to control symptoms of the disorder.

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




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