What is Narcolepsy

Posted on May 28, 2008 in Latest News

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that results in difficulty in staying awake. Narcolepsy can cause a person to fall asleep all of a sudden during the day. These “sleep attacks” persist even on getting enough sleep at night. The unusual sleep pattern that people with narcolepsy have can adversely affect their schooling, work, and social life.

Types

The two major kinds of sleep are rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly even although the eyelids stay shut. Dreams mainly happen during REM sleep, when your body becomes devoid of strength and you are unable to move your muscles. This temporary inability to move prevents you from acting out any dreams that you may be having.

Causes

Genetic factors alone are not strong enough to cause narcolepsy. Other factors such as immune-system dysfunction infection, hormonal changes trauma, stress may also be present before the disease develops. Thus, while close relatives of people with narcolepsy have a statistically higher risk of developing the disorder than do members of the general population, that risk remains low in comparison to diseases that are purely genetic in origin.

Symptoms

A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. Daytime naps may occur without warning and may be physically irresistible. Many find that they have extreme difficulty keeping up their concentration while at school or work. Some experience memory lapses. Many find it almost impossible to stay alert in passive situations, as when listening to lectures or watching television. The main symptoms of narcolepsy are:

Treatment

The drowsiness is normally treated using amphetamine-like stimulants such as methylphenidate, racemic amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine, or modafinil, a new stimulant with a different pharmacologic mechanism. Treatment is tailored to the individual based on symptoms and therapeutic response. The time required to achieve optimal control of symptoms is highly variable, and may take several months or longer.

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