Preview

Narcolepsy: Sleep and Intense Feelings

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
291 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Narcolepsy: Sleep and Intense Feelings
Narcolepsy is a sleeping disorder distinguished by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sleep attacks. The disorder makes it difficult for you to stay awake for long periods of time, in spite of any situation. As many as 200,000 Americans have the disease, but only about 50,000 are diagnosed, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke.
According to the (NIHDS) narcolepsy causes its victims to experience serious problems in their professional and personal lives. People may perceive them as lethargic and their performance at school or work may suffer. Narcolepsy also often affects intimate relationships. Extreme sleepiness may cause low sex drive or impotence, and people with narcolepsy may even fall asleep while making love.
These problems may be further complicated by emotional difficulties. Intense feelings, such as anger or joy, can trigger some symptoms of narcolepsy, causing affected people to remove themselves from emotional interactions. Sleep attacks may result in physical harm to people with this disorder. If symptoms are not managed, victims may be at increased risk of car accidents, burns and cuts if they fall asleep while driving, smoking or preparing food. Although narcolepsy has no cure, medications and lifestyle modifications can help manage the symptoms. Medications include Stimulants, Modafinil and Antidepressants. Lifestyle modifications are also important in managing the symptoms of narcolepsy. Victims may benefit from these steps:
 Going to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends.
 Schedule several naps of 10 to 15 minutes each day.
 Avoid caffeine and nicotine.
Support groups and counseling can also aid people with narcolepsy and their loved ones cope with the disorder this all according to the American sleeping disorders association, Center for narcolepsy and the national sleep

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The recommendations for David to improve his sleeping patterns would be to help him develop a weight-loss program, as weight loss improves sleep. Teaching the patient to try elevating the head of his bed using extra pillows to prevent him from sleeping on his back, encouraging him to avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and, nicotine before bedtime which can make the problem worse (Potter & Perry, 2013, p. 954). 3. Julie and David tell you that they are concerned about their 6-year-old daughter. She just started school and is having sleep problems.…

    • 1271 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Mayo Clinic Staff. “Diseases and Conditions: Narcolepsy.” 01 September 2015. Web. 31 March 2017. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcolepsy/basics/definition/con-20027429. The Mayo Clinic staff is a group of physicians, scientists and other medical specialists. This article contains information based on the topic of narcolepsy. In this article, The Mayo Clinic Staff gives information that contains the definition, symptoms, causes, and treatment for this disorder. Narcolepsy can be described as a sleeping disorder in which a person suffers from daytime drowsiness and unexpected attacks of sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, some symptoms of narcolepsy include: extreme daytime sleepiness, sudden loss of muscle tone, sleep…

    • 214 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Short term effects: They include the inability to problem solve or make decisions, hallucinations, slower reaction times, disorientation, falling asleep, and tremors. People who don't get enough sleep can get sick more easily. With less sleep, the body is unable to produce white cells as well as it should, making the immune system more vulnerable to attack. The short-term effects of a sleeping disorder can include fatigue and a lack of alertness, as well as short-term memory loss.…

    • 1285 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The disease I have chosen to discuss is Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder which is characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People who suffer from this condition find it hard to stay awake for any long periods of time. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are work, driving, eating or watching television. Narcolepsy is known to cause serious disruptions to a person’s daily routine. Good introSome people think narcolepsy is caused from or related to depression, seizure disorders, fainting, lack of sleep among other abnormal sleep conditions.. Research has shown this is not true. Narcolepsy is known as a…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are four types of nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics that help with inducing sleep. These are nonbenzodiazepines, melatonin receptor agonists, antidepressants, and orexin receptor agonists (Lubit, Bonds, & Lucia, 2015). Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics bind at benzodiazepine receptor site in…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Provide Support for Sleep

    • 3327 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Sleep problems are very common and can affect people in different ways. It can occur for a…

    • 3327 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sleep paralysis is something only a few people experience in their lifetime. I have never experienced it myself but from doing the research on it is hard to believe someone goes through it and multiple times. The thought of someone being paralyzed is pretty scary but the really scary part is what people see during it. Many people see things we only hear about and during the sleep paralysis it can seem more real and frightening than a regular dream. Scientist have said sleep paralysis only means you have woken up before you body does but many people disagree.…

    • 99 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain 's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. It is only diagnosed in one out of 2000 Americans (National Sleep Foundation). The main symptom is excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness. When I am supposed to be awake, my brain tells me I 'm tired. Even after adequate nighttime sleep, I still find myself falling asleep at inappropriate times and places. Some people also experience hallucinations, sleep paralysis, cataplexy--a sudden loss of muscle control, or automatic behaviors performed without full awareness (NSF).…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Diagnosing Narcolepsy

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Narcolepsy, defined by WebMD as a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness, is a rare disorder that usually starts between 15 and 25 years of age. On a normal night, a person would go to sleep and enter into a much deeper sleep stage called rapid eye movement (REM). During REM, one would experience vivid dreams and muscle paralysis. Although narcoleptic people go into REM during the nighttime, they also do during the day at any point.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Narcolepsy

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As a nurse, if I were explaining to a patient with narcolepsy what happens inside of their body, I would begin with the basics. I would explain that there are two parts of your brain that are constantly at battle with each other, trying to shut each other down, a concept known as mutual inhibition. These two parts are known as the arousal areas, responsible for keeping you awake, and the vlPOA, which is responsible for making you fall asleep and keeping you asleep.…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Me Doing What I Gotta Do

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages

    *. Children can experience a number of sleep problems, including narcolepsy which is characterized by: a difficult temperament at 5 months of age and anxiousness at 17 months of age.…

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Lady Macbeth's Downfall

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to feel a tremendous weight on your chest, or a dark, malformed figure standing at the foot of your bed. You can’t move or yell for help, you’re stuck in a nightmare even though you’re awake. Now imagine the inability to sleep altogether, the nightmares of your actions haunt your dreams to the point where you can no longer sleep at all. All of the scenarios stated are symptoms of a condition called narcolepsy, a disease in which sleep becomes a difficult task to complete, causing unrest, excessive daytime sleepiness, hallucinations, sleepwalking, and many other dangerous symptoms. These characteristics match that of Lady MacBeth from William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of MacBeth. In the play, the…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, is a parasomnia that has six diagnostic criteria that must be met according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV. It is marked by inappropriate physical behaviors that disrupt sleep. Upon awakening the individual is confused and has no memory of the episode. Sleepwalking peaks in childhood and usually resolves itself in adolescence. Adults that experience sleepwalking are more likely to have had episodes as children. The disorder is most prevalent in females during childhood and men in adulthood. Individuals with mood disorders such as anxiety or depression are more likely to present symptoms of somnambulism. Genetic predispositions are very important…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Narcolepsy

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages

    So what is narcolepsy? According to Harvey (2014), “narcolepsy is considered a primary hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness) condition.” Being a primary condition, it is not caused by another disease. Narcolepsy affects about 1 in 2,000 people, but is not caused by mental illness or psychological problems. However, having a family member with narcolepsy presents a 20-40 times higher risk of developing the condition compared to the general population.…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Realms of Sleep

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Every culture has its own beliefs about the condition known as sleep paralysis. Many people believe that sleep paralysis is a medical condition. According to (Web MD) (2012) sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During, these transitions, you cannot move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people also feel pressure and choking. Sleep paralysis is like having a nightmare awake. Sleep paralysis is associated with the condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted in their sleep. However, there are no dangers associated with sleep paralysis. It has been said that sleep paralysis may accompany the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is an…

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics