Essay On Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleeping disorder that occurs during the adolescence stage. It is peculiar as it causes the afflicted person to develop a spontaneous sleep cycle during the day. This disorder prompts “sleep attacks” to occur, and can even be accompanied by cataplexy, random muscle failure or really just REM sleep paralysis (Zimbardo, Johnson, Weber,2008, p.109). It can be dangerous as the attacks can be triggered at any time by intense feelings of emotion or a lack of stimulation. This means that in cases such as driving, sexual intercourse, and times of extreme happiness a narcoleptic person could just fall straight into REM sleep (Zimbardo, Johnson, Weber,2008,

The symptoms of narcolepsy include cataplexy, persistent daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Cataplexy is “a loss of skeletal muscle tone without loss of consciousness” (77). These cataplectic attacks often occur at emotional times. Such events could be laughter, sexual intercourse, physical

Firstly, what is narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that effects your central nervous system that does not allow the person to have a regulated sleep cycle. A regular person normally has a 90 minute sleep cycle, while a narcoleptic goes straight into REM sleep. Since they go straight into REM sleep, the brain does not have a chance to recover from its constant activities. A narcoleptics

In additions to Yutaka’s claims, a tumor grows in the serum of their spine, which causes part of their body to die and could be due to inflammation. However, his studies done on some patient showed 1 out of 10 patients had a little progress, but still could not control the sleeping disorder.

Automatic behavior refers to the phenomenon when patients behave without conscious awareness during microsleep episodes. For example, a patient could be conversing with someone and slip in a microsleep episode. The patient would trail off in the middle of their sentence and start a completely new topic, unrelated to what they were initially talking about. Cataplexy is arguably the most important symptom of Narcolepsy as it indicates the cause of Narcolepsy. Cataplexy is a sudden loss of muscle tone and is often mistaken for a seizure. A trigger for an episode of cataplexy is any strong enough emotion such as laughter, fear, sadness, or happiness. An interesting fact to note is that a certain group of neurons in the brainstem which halt muscle activity during REM sleep become inactive during cataplectic attacks. Sleep paralysis is something that everybody experiences on a daily basis while asleep but narcoleptics experience sleep paralysis before falling asleep and after waking up. Some narcoleptics also experience hallucinations that may accompany sleep paralysis. These hallucinations are usually vivid,

Although narcolepsy is a very common disorder, affecting between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 2000 people in the United States, there is still no cure and the only medications available mask some of the symptoms, but they are only effective for a short time (6). Though their is no cure, scientists have been trying to solve this problem since the ‘discovery’ of the disease 120 years ago. At this point they have a few possible areas that they are studying which have been connected to the disease. The suggestions that have been made so far are causes such as neuronal degeneration, a genetic mutation or an autoimmune disease (6). These possible causes are varied and have been proven to cause narcolepsy in other animals, but not humans specifically.

Sleep paralysis is a common condition with a prevalence of 5-62%, although most affected people have single or infrequent episodes (Dahlitz). Occasionally sleep paralysis is found to run in a family, and it can be associated with other disorders of hypersomnia, such as sleep apnea (Becker 81). Narcolepsy has also been linked with sleep paralysis; both are thought to be REM sleep disorders (Siegel). Gender and race do not seem to be a factor of risk for this disorder. The episodes of sleep paralysis seem to range from ages 5-35 (Dahlitz). The use of anxiolytic medicines, psychiatric disorders and high anxiety can also contribute to sleep paralysis (Larkin).

Narcolepsy is a syndrome that can be characterized by chronic daytime sleepiness, accompanied by hypnogogic hallucinations (vivid dreams that occur during overnight sleep or when falling asleep), sleep paralysis and cataplexy (an abrupt temporary loss of voluntary muscular function and tone, evoked by an emotional stimulus such as laughter, pleasure, anger,

Other factors that may also decrease episodes or severity of narcolepsy include diet, exercise and reduction in anxiety and depression. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence for the use of certain medications in narcolepsy. Although these medications hold risk the benefits outweigh the risks. For example, Methylphenidate can improve

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is considered to be weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles that you are able to control. It is caused by a breakdown in the usual communication between nerves and muscles. Narcolepsy is a continuing sleep disorder described by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and unexpected attacks of sleep. Many with narcolepsy find it very hard to stay awake for long amount of time, regardless of the environments.

While researching the topic of sleep paralysis I learned that it is not a new kind of disorder, brought on by cell phones, smog, or global warming- it has been around for centuries. Sleep paralysis was once attributed to “evil” presences, and it was even referred to as “old hag” in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I learned that, in most cases, it is simply a sign that a person's body is not moving smoothly through sleep (http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis). Most cases refers to hypnogogic sleep, whereas it happens to me when I am coming out of REM sleep.

Many disorders and diseases can result from abnormal sleeping patterns that are triggered from sleep deprivation. The most common forms of sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy (NINDS 10). All of these sleep disorders begin from sleep deprivation and can be managed once they are diagnosed correctly. According to Urban, “Nervousness, dizziness, and sleeplessness may occur”, as a result of sleep deprivation (1). This proves that the slightest health changes can occur if sleep deprivation becomes a problem. According to NINDS, “The disorders and the resulting sleep deprivation interfere with work, driving, and social activities” (10). This shows that the effects of being sleep deprived can drastically change one’s everyday

Males and females are equally affected by narcolepsy. Although the disorder has been diagnosed in a five-year-old, its symptoms most frequently appear for the first time during adolescence. In an estimated seventy-five percent of cases, the attacks begin between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five; only five percent of cases begin before the age of ten. Onset is rare after the age of forty; if narcolepsy seems to appear in an older person, it has probably existed undiagnosed for years. Sleep researchers believe that the extra need for sleep characteristic of adolescence may make this stage of development particularly vulnerable for the onset of narcolepsy. Thus, this disorder may typically begin in adolescence because it is somehow triggered

symptoms of this condition are, daytime and sleeping problems. The most common symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness, however other symptoms are sleep paralysis and hallucinations but they are less common in this health disorder. In most cases, symptoms will first appear when people are between the ages of 7 and 25. In rare cases, however, narcolepsy may appear at a younger age or in older adults. If left undiagnosed and untreated, early onset narcolepsy can interfere with psychological, social, and cognitive function and development and can undermine academic and social activities (“Narcolepsy Fact Sheet”). How does one get Narcolepsy? “Narcolepsy may have several causes. Most people with narcolepsy have low levels of the neurotransmitter

Sleep disorders alter ones sleep pattern and often results in the inability to either sleep or sleep soundly. They often cause you to feel restless, tired, fatigued, and irritable. It is estimated that nearly 75 percent of adult Americans experience sleep disorder symptoms at least a few nights per week. At the same time, sleep disturbances in some form are seen in as many as 25 to 30 percent of infants and children (“Sleep Disorders” 2013). Clearly a huge conundrum in the world, sleep disorders affect an inordinate amount of people. Millions of people suffer or have suffered from a sleep disorder at one point in their lives and if mistreated can impact organ systems functioning negatively. Physical disturbances, medical issues,