Narcolepsy
One third of your life is spent sleeping (Rickard, 2010), but what about Narcoleptics? This could be contradictory because some people who suffer from Narcolepsy also suffer from insomnia, which is one of the symptoms of Narcolepsy.
The first signs of Narcolepsy were first founded by two German doctors in the 1870’s. First, in 1877 by German doctor Westphal and then again in 1878 by another German doctor named Fisher. The first symptoms they saw were their patients falling asleep throughout the day at random times and under certain circumstances. Their patients also described having dream like hallucinations while awake, and automatic behavior which now is known as micro sleep. In 1880 a French doctor named Gélineau gave Narcolepsy its name and recognized it as a disorder. He combined two Greek words to get Narcolepsy; Narke meaning numbness and Lepsis meaning attack. He also gave it a brief description that it was a sleep attack followed by an intense emotion. Then Löwenfeld in 1902 separated the sleep attacks and muscle weaknesses and he named the muscle weakness cataplexy (History of Narcolepsy, 2010).
Narcolepsy is a lifelong disorder. Doctors have keyed it as a neurological chronic disorder, because it affects the part of the brain that regulates when to be awake and when to be asleep, and also alertness. Also, there is no way to get rid of Narcolepsy and its always happening to you whether it is brief periods of sleep, or daytime hallucinations. Out of 2.4 million people in the United States, Narcolepsy affects 50,000 people (What is narcolepsy?, 2008).
The diagnosis of Narcolepsy is right off the symptoms. Symptoms usually begin in the teenage years and the disorder progresses and can get worse with age if not treated properly. Usually a narcoleptic has excessive daytime sleepiness, caused by insomnia. A good night sleep for a narcoleptic is 10 hours (PBWorks, 2008). Also, falling asleep for brief periods throughout the day can cause abnormal REM sleep, which is what most narcoleptics have. Abnormal REM sleep is when you fall into REM sleep faster, which is about 15 minutes rather than it would a non-narcoleptic (NativeRemedies, 2010). Chronic sleepiness can usually lead to memory loss, automatic behavior, and visual disturbances. Usually patients with chronic sleepiness experiences automatic behavior when falling asleep during very bland activities. These activities can last for seconds, minutes, or even hours. Some patients can even briefly talk while in automatic behavior. Memory loss can be due to drowsiness, and impaired concentration, which can explain why patients may get so aggravated with not being able to remember things, when it really isn’t their fault. Narcoleptics usually have worse impairments with working and driving then epileptics do (Aldrich, 1999).
Also, physicians use a variety of different methods to test if you truly have narcolepsy, and not just sleep symptoms. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Hypocretin Test, to name a few, are some of the tests a physician could perform test on you and your body. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a questionnaire consists of certain questions pertaining to narcoleptic like symptoms, and has the patient rank on a numbered scale the intensity of whatever the question may ask. Another, the Hypocretin Test, measures the fluid around your spinal cord which contains Hypocretin. A low amount of Hypocretin, found in most narcoleptics, seems to be one of the ways to cause and diagnose narcolepsy (Benedictis, 2008).
Narcolepsy has had many myths behind it like medications can cure the symptoms, and that taking short naps can help Narcoleptics (PBWorks, 2008). The only other treatments that can help stable your narcolepsy or deal with the everyday problems of the illness are group therapy, medication, and behavioral changes (Benedictis, 2008). Different types of therapy can include Homeopathic, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Spiritual Therapy, counseling, and psychotherapy. Also, there are different types of medications, stimulants or anti depressants that can help with symptoms of narcolepsy (like anti depressants) and one that can kind of let you grasp your narcolepsy with stimulants (Native Remedies, 2010). Sodium oxybate can be used with patients who experience cataplexy with their narcolepsy. This medication is used to control the central nervous system to help treat and control cataplexy (Benedictis, 2008). Combining all these methods can help control or lessen the symptoms of narcolepsy, but cannot fully cure it. Always keep in mind that Narcolepsy is a full length illness and cannot be cured of, only treated.
In conclusion, the symptoms of Narcolepsy are prominent and the diagnosis of it is still pretty easy. Considering with the advances in technology, there would be more of a way to truly tell the severity of a person’s Narcolepsy. The future, sadly, of Narcolepsy doesn’t look very prominent but with the newest ways we have now to diagnose Narcolepsy, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Bibliography
Aldrich, M. (1999) – Narcolepsy
Retrieved April 22, 2010 from CNI website:
http://www.thecni.org/reviews/10-1-p03-aldrich.htm
Benedictis, T. (10/2008) – Narcoleptic symptoms, causes, treatment, and medication
Retrieved April 9, 2010 from Help Guide website:
http://helpguide.org/life/narcolepsy_symptom_causes_treatments.htm
Jasmin, L. (2009, September 2) – Narcolepsy
Retrieved April 14, 2010 from MedlinePlus website:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000802.htm
No Author (2010) – History of Narcolepsy
Retrieved April 12, 2010 from Stanford University website:
http://med.stanford.edu/school/Psychiatry/narcolepsy/narcolepsyhistory.html
No Author (11/2008) – What is narcolepsy?
Retrieved April 12, 2010 from U.S Department of Health & Human Services website:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/nar/nar_what.html
No Author (2010) – Narcolepsy
Retrieved April 15, 2010 from Native Remedies website:
http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/natural-medication-for-narcolepsy-treatment.html
PBWorks (2008) – Myths and misconceptions
Retrieved April 12, 2010 from people.with.narcolepsy website:
http://peoplewithnarcolepsy.pbworks.com/Myths-and-misconceptions
Rickard, J, (2010) – Interesting Facts about Sleep You Probably Didn’t Know
Retrieved April 23, 2010 from Health Guidance website:
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/6037/1/Interesting-Facts-About-Sleep-You-Probably-Didnt-Know.html
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