Narcolepsy - Symptoms and Causes

Narcolepsy - Symptoms and Causes

If you or someone you know constantly feels tired during the day, and without notice, may even fall asleep right in the middle of doing everyday tasks such as cooking or typing, these symptoms could be an indication of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a frequently misdiagnosed sleep disorder. While others might attribute the symptoms as resulting from laziness or poor sleeping habits, to the affected individual, the symptoms are very real, they’re uncontrollable, and they can be very frightening.

The symptoms of narcolepsy rarely begin after a person reaches age 40. Most often (but not always), they begin appearing between ages 10 and 25.

The primary symptom of narcolepsy is persistent daytime tiredness that does not subside no matter how much sleep the affected individual gets. The constant tired feeling makes concentration difficult and can keep an individual from functioning as needed. This in itself is a problem, however those who experience another symptom of narcolepsy – the propensity to suddenly fall asleep - compounds the situation.

What makes falling asleep so serious is that it happens without warning, which means the affected individual has no time in advance to prepare for sleep. In other words, getting to a safe place to lie down isn’t an option. It’s not bad if the sleep attack occurs while Read more

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy - Diagnosis and Treatment

Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects many people in many different ways. Those with this condition are frequently tired during the day, and they sometimes suddenly fall asleep right in the midst of performing everyday tasks. The previous section discussed the symptoms of narcolepsy and its suspected causes. This section continues with a discussion of how narcolepsy is diagnosed and treatment options.

When constant daytime sleepiness is the problem, and other conditions such as depression, insufficient sleep, fainting and a disorder that causes seizures have been ruled out, narcolepsy is generally suspected, especially if the sleepiness is accompanied by cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone).

Responses to specific sleep-related questions helps narrow down the diagnosis as can spending time at Read more

Melatonin and Sunlight

Melatonin and Sunlight What makes us sleep? If you asked 10 individuals this question you’d likely get a variety of answers. Some people might say a comfortable bed and quiet surroundings are what makes us sleep. Others would ration that a nightcap is needed. Sheer exhaustion, a full belly and someone to snuggle with are some of the other opinions people have about what makes us sleep. Interestingly, few people would give the correct answer to the question which is actually the release of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland located at the base of the brain. It is secreted at varying levels throughout the day and its release helps to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. The pineal gland helps to regulate the body’s internal clocks, and helps keep the body in balance by regulating the release of different hormones, neurotransmitters and chemicals that impact the body in many ways. In fact, there is a high correlation between the release of melatonin and Read more

Insomnia – Cures & Treatments

Insomnia – Cures and Treatments If you are diagnosed with insomnia and the insomnia is not a symptom of an underlying problem, it can most often be ‘cured’ or ‘treated’ by incorporating one or more changes into your life. If on the other hand your insomnia is the result of a mental disorder, a breathing disorder or some other type of physical disorder, making more than a behavioral or lifestyle change likely will be required. Hanging curtains to help block out light and sleeping in a room separate from someone who snores are both things you can do to treat your insomnia. So is practicing one or more forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is twofold. It helps you change your thoughts at bedtime and it helps you develop more favorable sleeping habits. Stimulus control involves retraining yourself to think of bed only as a place for sleep or for intercourse. If you want to watch television or read you need to do those activities elsewhere. Once you start associating bed with sleep (or sex), the tossing and turning should cease, making it easier to fall asleep. Progressive muscle relaxation helps many people who have trouble sleeping because they are not able to relax. While in bed their minds work in overdrive, thinking about Read more

Insomnia - Causes, Types & Diagnosis

Insomnia - Causes, Types and Diagnosis Insomnia – the inability to fall asleep at night or to sleep soundly throughout the night – can be temporary or persistent and can have many causes. Insomnia that is temporary is frequently classified as transient. If insomnia lasts longer than a few days or even a few weeks, it usually will be classified as permanent. Women suffer the effects of insomnia more than men do, probably due to the many hormonal changes women experience. In addition, because of other factors such as a sedentary lifestyle or an underlying medical condition or as a side effect of prescription medication, insomnia can increase with age. Insomnia that is not considered persistent can result from too much stress, from crossing into different time zones, or from environmental factors such as an increase in noise levels or temperature variations of more than a few degrees. Exposure to excessive light or loud and/or persistent noise including nearby traffic and even closer second-hand snoring can create an environment in which sleep is elusive. Insomnia can even be the result of learned behavior. Medical treatment for intermittent or transient insomnia generally is not prescribed. That’s because the condition typically remedies itself once the affected individual takes control of his or her situation and corrects the problem(s) causing the insomnia. Permanent or chronic insomnia, on the other hand, can be more serious. Read more

Awakening During the Night

How to Get Back to Sleep When Sleep is Disrupted It is not uncommon for people to wake during sleep. A loud noise, a child’s crying, an urge to use the restroom, a hunger pain or a pain in some other part of the body are just some of the reasons why we awaken. Waking during sleep doesn’t become a problem unless waking is constant or unless it is not possible to get back to sleep afterwards. Here is some advice on what you can do if you have trouble getting back to sleep. Get up and get out of bed This might sound contrary to what you Read more

Sleep Environment

A Better Sleep Environment Can Help You Sleep You might not realize this, but your sleep environment can have a profound effect on the quality of your sleep. Here are some tips to help create the ideal sleep environment. Room temperature Ambient temperature that is too warm or too humid can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Ideally, the room should feel slightly cool as this temperature more closely matches that of the body when it is in the midst of sleep. Finding the right room temperature isn’t difficult when you’re the only one in the room. But when the room is shared, what’s cool enough or warm enough becomes a matter of opinion. That’s when it’s time to compromise. Adjusting the thermostat, using blankets, wearing warmer night clothes (and socks if necessary) and using a fan and/or humidifier are some ways that room temperature can be adjusted to accommodate everyone’s needs. Noise level A quite environment is more conducive to sleep than one where there’s background noise. Whether it’s outdoors traffic or indoors television or a dog that’s barking or a partner that’s snoring, it can all lead to constant sleep disruptions. How can you quite the noise levels inside your bedroom? Add a rug on top of bare wood floor. Cover windows with heavier curtains or drapes. Replace windows with those containing double or triple panes of glass. Play soothing music or use a fan or generator to help drown out noise. And if all else fails, consider wearing earplugs. Bedside clock If you can see the time on your clock when it’s dark inside your room, you may be losing sleep. Sometimes, the more aware you are of how much time there is left for sleeping, the more trouble you have sleeping. Set your alarm and turn your clock so that you cannot see the time. Let your alarm and your body tell you when it is time to awake. Sleep in an appropriate bed The size of your bed and the type of mattress on which you sleep can both impact the quality of your sleep. If your bed is too small and you feel cramped, you may not sleep as well as you could if you had room to stretch out. Likewise with the mattress. If it feels too hard or too soft or too lumpy, you’ll have trouble getting comfortable which can delay sleep or cause you to awaken frequently during the night. Getting a new bed and/or mattress is a worthwhile investment if doing so helps you sleep better. Perhaps indulge in softer sheets and fluffier pillows too. Go ahead and splurge. You’ll definitely feel better in the morning. Sleep in bed Doing other tasks in your bed confuses your body. It learns to equate the bed with performing tasks that require alertness rather than rest. Find some other place to watch television or pay your bills and use your bed for its intended purpose! Lighting When it comes to sleeping, the darker the better, especially if you work the night shift and end up sleeping during the day.

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