An astonishing number of people are unfamiliar with the true narcolepsy facts. The condition is a difficult one to have; it is often mistaken for laziness or regular exhaustion. None of these interpretations are accurate. In the article that follows, we will go over the main points that need to be known about the condition and put a stop to misconceptions.
First of all, how about the general narcolepsy facts? A narcoleptic is a person with a central nervous system disorder characterized by the brain's inability to control sleep cycles. Its major symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, and sleep paralysis, among others.
EDS is essentially an unshakeable drowsiness that persists throughout a narcoleptic's wake cycle. Generally it is is punctuated by abrupt sleep episodes, or "attacks," over which the sufferer has no control. These episodes can last for as brief an amount of time as a few seconds or a few minutes. Cataplexy and sleep paralysis can both be defined as a temporary loss of muscle control. Cataplexy is the bane of the waking cycle: it can strike at any moment, and can manifest itself as anything from a vague twitch to a total body collapse. It is often seen as a seizure, meaning that lots of narcoleptics are misdiagnosed with epilepsy. Sleep paralysis, on the other hand, takes place at night when the sufferer is about to fall asleep; it is a collapse of the entire body, often accompanied by frightening hallucinations. For both types of episode, the sufferer is awake for the duration. Both are common and very unpleasant, two of the sadder parts of the narcolepsy definition.
The mysterious nature of the narcolepsy facts is largely due to the fact the condition often goes undiagnosed. Around 50,000 out of the 200,000 estimated narcoleptics in the U.S. receive proper treatment. The symptoms are frequently assumed to be the symptoms of drug abuse, exhaustion, or flat out laziness. This is exacerbated by the fact that many narcoleptics experience their first symptoms during the formative years of adolescence. When pubescent narcoleptics are not recognized, however, their suffering is greatly amplified. You can't exactly maintain a job or an academic career if you're prone to sudden sleep attacks. It's important to be able to stay awake, whether one is in a truly passive setting such as a meeting or a college lecture, or a more active passive setting such as behind the wheel of a car!
Sadly, there's no cure for narcoleptics; however, there are medications that help. Doctors usually need to treat each symptom individually. Stimulants, such as methylphenidate, are a popular form of treatment for EDS. Cataplexy has been shown to respond to some antidepressants. Sleep paralysis and trouble sleeping can be aided by controlled doses of strong pharmaceutical sedatives. If you suspect narcolepsy in anyone you know, don't wait another second.
First of all, how about the general narcolepsy facts? A narcoleptic is a person with a central nervous system disorder characterized by the brain's inability to control sleep cycles. Its major symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, and sleep paralysis, among others.
EDS is essentially an unshakeable drowsiness that persists throughout a narcoleptic's wake cycle. Generally it is is punctuated by abrupt sleep episodes, or "attacks," over which the sufferer has no control. These episodes can last for as brief an amount of time as a few seconds or a few minutes. Cataplexy and sleep paralysis can both be defined as a temporary loss of muscle control. Cataplexy is the bane of the waking cycle: it can strike at any moment, and can manifest itself as anything from a vague twitch to a total body collapse. It is often seen as a seizure, meaning that lots of narcoleptics are misdiagnosed with epilepsy. Sleep paralysis, on the other hand, takes place at night when the sufferer is about to fall asleep; it is a collapse of the entire body, often accompanied by frightening hallucinations. For both types of episode, the sufferer is awake for the duration. Both are common and very unpleasant, two of the sadder parts of the narcolepsy definition.
The mysterious nature of the narcolepsy facts is largely due to the fact the condition often goes undiagnosed. Around 50,000 out of the 200,000 estimated narcoleptics in the U.S. receive proper treatment. The symptoms are frequently assumed to be the symptoms of drug abuse, exhaustion, or flat out laziness. This is exacerbated by the fact that many narcoleptics experience their first symptoms during the formative years of adolescence. When pubescent narcoleptics are not recognized, however, their suffering is greatly amplified. You can't exactly maintain a job or an academic career if you're prone to sudden sleep attacks. It's important to be able to stay awake, whether one is in a truly passive setting such as a meeting or a college lecture, or a more active passive setting such as behind the wheel of a car!
Sadly, there's no cure for narcoleptics; however, there are medications that help. Doctors usually need to treat each symptom individually. Stimulants, such as methylphenidate, are a popular form of treatment for EDS. Cataplexy has been shown to respond to some antidepressants. Sleep paralysis and trouble sleeping can be aided by controlled doses of strong pharmaceutical sedatives. If you suspect narcolepsy in anyone you know, don't wait another second.
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