Narcolepsy Sleeping Disorder


Coping With Narcolepsy: Tips To Stay Awake a picture of a person with narcolepsy

Sleeping during the course of the day is normal – especially when you do not have things to do and just want a bit of rest. However, it can be quite a problem if you succumb to daytime sleepiness at random times, particularly during hours when you should be working or concentrating on something. If these situations happen frequently enough, you could be suffering from narcolepsy. Here are some tips that can help you cope with narcolepsy:
1. Read up information on narcolepsy.
When you have some free time in your hands – meaning you’re not nodding off to sleep – read up about narcolepsy. Understanding your condition is key in finding the right solutions. For example, do you know that a person who suffers from narcolepsy is called narcoleptic and that imbalances in brain chemicals cause it? And one more thing – narcolepsy is incurable. It is a chronic disorder that needs a lifetime of management if you want to spend some time out of the bedroom. But despite it being incurable, it’ll help you to know that there are medications and techniques that can actually keep you awake when you want to.

2. Be ready for symptoms.
A lot of narcolepsy symptoms get misdiagnosed as that of other more popular disorders such as anxiety, depression, and drug abuse so it is important to pay attention. Symptoms of narcolepsy rarely come singly; most often than not, these signs come in pairs or in progression. Some symptoms to watch out for include overwhelming drowsiness and an uncontrollable need to sleep during the day, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone which results in slurred speech and general muscle weakness), sleep paralysis (temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking.), and hallucinations. Restless nighttime sleep is also a symptom.

3. Address and treat symptoms.
Since managing narcolepsy largely depends in controlling its symptoms and causes, it is time to pay attention to these matters. Excessive daytime drowsiness or EDS can be prevented by establishing good nighttime sleep routines. If you are bothered by insomnia – which can make EDS worse – buying sleep aid drugs online can help. Just be sure to check with your doctor to ensure that no negative interactions will occur. EDS can also be fought off by using stimulants. On the other hand, antidepressants are also useful in preventing hallucinations. Just remember to follow your doctor’s prescription religiously to avoid overdosing and other complications.

4. Practice preventive measures.
To stave off EDS, take short naps at strategic times during the day. These naps can help boost your alertness and prevent drowsiness for at least three hours. Avoiding nicotine and alcohol can also help a lot since they can cause other symptoms to worsen. It also helps to stick to a strict sleep schedule as this can help your body clock recognize between the right and wrong time to fall asleep. Exercising and eating a balanced diet can also prevent muscle loss and weakness.

5. Form a support group.
Having a support from your workplace or school can significantly boost your chances of coping with narcolepsy. The American with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against narcoleptic workers and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees. You can talk to your teacher or boss about taking short naps during the day, recording meetings and lectures, or breaking up monotonous tasks.

By: Marco Gonzaga

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Marco Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues such as online healthcare. For more information about online healthcare and discount pharmacy, please consult www.discountpharmacy.bz/.

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Causes of Narcolepsy


The Cause And Symptoms Of Narcolepsy a picture of a person with narcolepsy

The main characteristic of narcolepsy is overwhelming excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), even after adequate nighttime sleep. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. Daytime naps may occur with or without warning and may be irresistible.

These naps can occur several times a day. They are typically refreshing, but only for up to a couple hours. Drowsiness may persist for prolonged periods of time. In addition, night-time sleep may be fragmented with frequent wakenings.

Daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations also occur in people who do not have narcolepsy, more frequently in people who are suffering from extreme lack of sleep. Cataplexy is generally considered to be unique to narcolepsy.

In most cases, the first symptom of narcolepsy to appear is excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness. The other symptoms may begin alone or in combination months or years after the onset of the daytime naps. There are wide variations in the development, severity, and order of appearance of cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations in individuals. Only about 20 to 25 percent of people with narcolepsy experience all four symptoms. The excessive daytime sleepiness generally persists throughout life, but sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations may not.

The symptoms of narcolepsy, especially the excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, often become severe enough to cause serious problems in a person’s social, personal, and professional lives and severely limit activities.

While the cause of narcolepsy has not yet been determined, scientists have discovered conditions that may increase an individual’s risk of having the disorder. Specifically, there appears to be a strong link between narcoleptic individuals and certain genetic conditions. One factor that may predispose an individual to narcolepsy involves an area of Chromosome 6 known as the HLA complex. There appears to be a correlation between narcoleptic individuals and certain variations in HLA genes, although it is not required for the condition to occur.

Learning as much about narcolepsy as possible and finding a support system can help patients and families deal with the practical and emotional effects of the disease, possible occupational limitations, and situations that might cause injury. A variety of educational and other materials are available from sleep medicine or narcolepsy organizations. Support groups exist to help persons with narcolepsy and their families.

Disclaimer – The information presented here should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor for more information about Narcolepsy.

Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.

By: Heather Colman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

This article is Copyright 2006, Heather Colman. Find more narcolepsy resources at narcolepsy-journal.info.

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