Understanding Narcolepsy (Sleep Attacks)

What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is one particular of the causes of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. It is a sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sleep attacks, creating the patient to fall asleep in the most inopportune moments, e.g., whilst eating or during a meeting. It affects either sex equally and in most cases starts in the puberty many years.
Signs and symptoms
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) is the most very important and quite often 1st symptom. It presents as frequent drowsiness and inability to stay awake throughout the day even soon after gaining adequate night time sleep. The condition is troublesome and occasionally final results in embarrassing circumstances. Cataplexy is a loss of muscle manage triggered by intense feelings such as laughter, anger, joy, or due to strenuous workout routines. It is much less typical than EDS, and can cause a array of physical alterations from slurred speech to complete physical collapse, lasting for a few seconds to a few minutes. Sleep Paralysis refers to episodes when the patient is unable to speak or move for short intervals on falling asleep or waking up. Hypnogogic Hallucinatons are pretty vivid and scary dreams and sounds which the patient knowledge when falling asleep. As the patient may possibly be semi-awake when beginning to dream, he skilled dreams as reality, and these may be specifically vivid and frightening. Automatic behavior happens when familiar routines or dull tasks are carried out with no recollection or memory of them later on. Sleep paralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations can occur in consumers without having Narcolepsy.
Diagnosis
To diagnose Narcolepsy, the patient initially undergoes a medical history and physical examination. This is followed by a Polysomnogram (PSG) and a Many Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). A Polysomnogram measures the many different physique function while in sleep, including:
o Nasal airflow
o Respiratory effort
o Blood oxygen level
o Snoring
o Heart rate and rhythm (ECG)
o Electrical activity in the brain (EEG)
o Eye and muscle movements
The Numerous Sleep Latency Test is performed in the day to assess how readily the patient falls asleep and also the type of sleep pattern produced. It records the brain waves, heart rate, muscle activity and eye movements. No blood test is involved in the diagnosis of Narcolepsy.
Remedy
Narcolepsy can not be cured but the signs can be tremendously improved by way of drugs and
lifestyle modifications. The main aim is to retain alertness and control some of the lesser occurring
symptoms if they take place. Stimulants to support patient stay awake or alert, and antidepressants which support alleviate the signs of cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis might possibly be utilised on its very own or in combination to handle the signs and symptoms. Drug remedy is only one particular way of treating
narcolepsy. Taking quick naps and following a fantastic sleep hygiene program are also useful, and could suffice for most people who lead slow paced lives.