Narcolepsy is such a neurological disorder, the impact of which affects a person's ability to control its own state of wakefulness and sleep. The symptoms of narcolepsy are accompanied by excessive sleepiness and are not subject to control by the attacks of sleep that occur during the day and are somewhat dangerous. For example, sudden sleep attacks can occur at any time and for any actions. As a result, it becomes difficult to concentrate on sick people and they cannot work normally. (Chokroverty, Sudhansu) The cause of narcolepsy is still unknown, but there are many versions. For instance, scholars believe that the disease is psychosomatic in nature. (Goswami, Meeta et al.) Some believe that this is one of the symptoms of schizophrenia or a person has problems with neurochemical balance in the brain.
Causes of narcolepsy
In the twentieth century came to the conclusion that narcolepsy comes from the fact that the broken system, which is responsible for sleep. A brain is a complex machine; it has special structures, which are responsible for sleeping activities. You need to pay attention to the special of biologically active substances of chemical nature, by which to facilitate the work of nerve impulses by neurons - neurotransmitters. If the nervous system of a person works, the person is wide awake when the excitation pulses are not received by the neurons, the person begins to fall asleep.
So, large-scale studies have shown that narcolepsy occurs because of a lack of certain neurotransmitter - orexin A and B. Orexin is responsible for the vigor, if not, the narcolepsy develops in humans. (Kryger, Meir H et al.)
What breaks the system of REM sleep and not enough of orexin?
Trauma in the brain.
Via infectious lesions in the brain.
When excessive fatigue.
During pregnancy.
Failures in the immune system.
Diabetes.
When the genetic predisposition. (Nofzinger, Eric et al.)
The symptoms of narcolepsy:
Sleep on the go, when people for no reason, no reason at all fell asleep, it often is due to monotonous work, during the conversation, walking, while watching TV. The dream does not last long - up to several minutes, with severe narcolepsy - a few hours.
Suddenly the man relaxes all the muscles when a person is surprised, remembered, laughed, scared or after intercourse. Loses muscle tone people with cataplexy, but the symptoms develop gradually. At first inhibited the activity of the cerebral cortex. If a person falls asleep while walking, then two minutes is still moving in the dream state. (Baumann, Christian R et al.)
If the status remains normal, the person is stationary, the muscles begin to relax and the person falls, but he will definitely find a place to sleep, for example, sit on a chair.
Some may notice such signs of narcolepsy:
Hallucinations and vivid dreams too, this could be when a person falls asleep and when he wakes up.
After sleep it is hard to move, it speaks about the sleep paralysis.
Always want to sleep during the day, but night sleep is disrupted, people can often wake up. (Baumann, Christian R et al.)
The symptomatology develops for many years, but do not need the above signs immediately to classify narcolepsy, they can talk about other diseases - stress, sleep deprivation, extreme fatigue.
Diagnosis of narcolepsy
It is very important to diagnose the disease, symptoms similar to other neurological disorders, so it is important to differentiate this disease from epilepsy. Treatment of narcolepsy is the opposite of epilepsy, so it's important to make the right diagnosis, it is necessary to address to the neuropathologist.
Treatment of narcolepsy
Now there are no special schemes for the treatment, which could completely get rid of the disease. The individually doctor may prescribe these drugs that will help to get rid of the symptoms of narcolepsy:
Drugs that stimulate the brain.
Drugs that will help to weaken the braking effect on the sleeping area in the brain. (Nofzinger, Eric et al.)
Treatment is symptomatic, but it all depends on the patient, he may be trying to adapt to narcolepsy. For that he needs to watch that night's sleep was complete, keep track of your routine, to allocate a small amount of time for sleep.
The patient with narcolepsy is prohibited from engaging in those occupations which can be dangerous for his life and others:
American scientists developed a special spray in the nose; it is the main component of orexin, which causes narcolepsy. In the case of isolated sleep paralysis does not need to use special medication. If narcolepsy is constantly repeated, it is necessary to take special stimulating drugs. It is recommended to adhere to strict sleep hygiene by ensuring a sufficiently long night and short NAPs (less than 30 minutes, usually after dinner) at the same time each day. You need to pay attention to the side effects of this drug - the person sick, he has a headache. (Chokroverty, Sudhansu)
Hence, it is very important to learn about narcolepsy and to take the necessary measures.
Works Cited
Baumann, Christian R et al. Narcolepsy: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, And Treatment. 1st ed., New York, Springer, 2011,.
Chokroverty, Sudhansu. Sleep Disorders Medicine. 1st ed., Philadelphia, Saunders/Elsevier, 2009,.
Goswami, Meeta et al. Narcolepsy. 2nd ed., New York, NY, Springer-Verlag New York, 2016,.
Kryger, Meir H et al. Principles And Practice Of Sleep Medicine. 1st ed., Philadelphia, PA, Saunders/Elsevier, 2011,.
Nofzinger, Eric et al. Neuroimaging Of Sleep And Sleep Disorders. 1st ed., Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2013,.
