Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Getting Checked Out

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. In rare cases, some people may remain asleep for an hour or longer. In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), three other major symptoms frequently characterize narcolepsy: cataplexy, or the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone; vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or upon awakening; and brief episodes of total paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep. Narcolepsy is not

Sleep is a complex mysterious phenomenon that we don’t know much about including why we dream and different actions associated with lack of sleep like yawning or illness, but there are many theories as to why these things occur along with facts. Why do we dream or have nightmares? What is the point to these things and how do they contribute to our health? Scientists are doing their best to research these things but sleep and things related to it are very mysterious and many things are still left unsolved. There are also many disorders and illnesses connected to the need for sleep and sleep itself, including sleepwalking, sleep apnea, snoring, yawning, dreaming, nightmares, and other various things.

The impact of sleep deprivation can impact nearly every aspect of your life. In my life, it has affected me in so many ways. Throughout the day, I feel tired, and when I’m supposed to have a good night’s rest, I am wide awake. The days I don’t have the energy to do anything, are about most days, but even though the effects of insomnia are great they won’t end my life. Although insomnia is common, most people can find a treatment that works for them. There are techniques for stress reduction, relaxation, sleep schedule management and even sleep pills that can control insomnia. Relaxing and scheduling a sleep pattern helps me get a better night’s rest, yet sometimes it’s still tough. Besides, it is better than stressing about it or having anxiety or depression as a result of

It can be considered a symptom of an undiagnosed sleep disorder or other medical conditions. Those affected by sleep deprivation are known to experience daytime sleepiness, fatigue, clumsiness, and weight gain/loss as well as effects on the brain and cognitive functions. These symptoms negatively affect students who are having to get up early for school (“Sleep Deprivation - Research & Treatments”).

This disorder can be caused by several different factors, a list of these factors are as followed; Different shift work, pregnancy, time zone changes, medications and changes in our sleep pattern like staying up late or sleeping in late. It has also been

Narcolepsy is a uncommon sleep disorder characterized for excessive daytime sleepiness and significant daily dysfunction. Daily periods of irresistible need to fall asleep during times when individual is supposed to be awake, as driving or at work, that may result in an accident. Patients with narcolepsy must of the times suffer from insomnia caused by sleep fragmentation this is why is imperative for narcolepsy to be diagnosed and treated.

A person with narcolepsy can experience extreme daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable falling asleep during daytime.

McMahon , et al, 2014). Another factor that can play into S.A.D. is melatonin, which helps with sleep and wake cycles. Rosenthal, et al, notes how the pineal gland, the gland that produces melatonin, will react to dark surroundings with drowsiness that can lead people to being lethargic (as cited in Melrose, 2015). When melatonin increases and serotonin decreases, the offset of the proteins can cause circadian rhythms to be disrupted, which is the bodies “24 hour” clock. Researcher Melrose writes that “…circadian rhythms respond to the rhythmic light-dark changes that occur daily and throughout each of the seasons.” (2015). People with S.A.D. disorder normally find that their circadian rhythms are off beat and timed differently with day lengths, for example feeling tired in the middle of the day while being wide awake or feeling wide awake when it would normally be time to sleep.

Everyone needs sleep and it will make a day go smoothly or completely ruin someone’s rest of the day. Every human, animal, and most insects require a sufficient amount of sleep to function normally thought-out their day and night. On average humans need about seven to ten hours of sleep, as a normal requirement for the brain to recover conventionally. However, 40-50 percent of Americans do not get enough sleep every night (Information on Insomnia, n.d.). Lack of time or stressful living schedule may hinder there sleeping time. Others may have a disorder that causes them to have horrible sleep experiences and not being able to sleep.

As a freshman student-athlete here at one of the most prestigious schools in South Carolina it can be tough to get sleep. Ever since I can remember I usually get amazing sleep, then suddenly it is as if a switch flipped and now sleep is foreign to not only me, but most of my friends as well. One way that Real Age helped me realize to fix this problem was to find times during my busy schedule to power nap or trying to nap at least 15 to 20 minutes per day. Then to also manage some emotions whether it be stress, anxiety, or depression. If my emotions are getting the better of me then they recommend that I confront a doctor about what I am experiencing and my sleeping troubles. For me to keep living my healthy lifestyle I need to get quality sleep and by managing my emotions and taking power naps I will begin to sleep better during the night, which then carries over to my great attitude the next

Thank you very much for referring Pamela on for her long-term issues with sleep. She describes both sleep onset and sleep maintenance issues and has essentially free running circadian rhythm. She will go to bed anywhere from 10.00pm to 2.00am and have a lot of trouble getting to sleep. She does find though that if she goes to bed at a later time, particularly 2.00am, that she does sleep better and will often then arise from bed at between 9.00am and 10am. She arises unrefreshed and has excessive daytime sleepiness throughout the day and will often fall asleep in passive situations. Reassuringly, she is not drowsy whilst driving.

Narcolepsy differs from obstructive sleep apnea due to the fact that it is a disorder that is experienced during the day instead of at night. According to the article “What is narcolepsy,” in the Consumer Health Complete Journal, narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that involves the brain disruption of wake-sleep cycles, and is considered a chronic sleep disorder (“What is narcolepsy?” 2010.). Almost every patient that is diagnosed with narcolepsy has EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness), where one inadvertently falls asleep at strange times such as during meals, driving or while simply talking. (“What is narcolepsy?” 2010.). Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) might greatly effect an individual emotionally because the patient will often feel that they have no control over their own bodies. They might have no consistent routine of when it is expected to have normal waking and sleeping

Behavioral therapies may help control symptoms, which includes taking three or more scheduled naps throughout the day and exercising. Patients are also advised to avoid heavy meals and alcohol, which can disturb or induce sleepiness during the day. Counseling is also very important for people with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy symptoms are not widely understood by the general public and this may cause patients to feel uncomfortable, alienated, or depressed. This disease can be quite frightening and thus the fear of inappropriately falling asleep will often alter a person’s life. In addition to therapy doctors will also typically prescribe stimulants to improve alertness and diminish excessive daytime sleepiness. Antidepressants are often used to treat cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis (NINDS

Sleepiness during the day and napping a lot are some of the common features of

We spend one third of our lives doing it, and yet, some of us never seem to be able to get enough. People all over the world don’t receive enough sleep whether it’s from a medical condition like narcolepsy, or simply not having enough time in a day. The effects of getting a good night’s rest are essential and signs of sleep depravation are not as hard to spot as one may think.