Get to know Narcolepsy, a disease that makes you overslept

Medical Video: Hypersomnia: the causes and treatment of sleep disorders

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, in which there are abnormalities in the nerves that cause a person to suddenly fall asleep in a time and place that may not be suitable for sleep. This disorder attacks a person's ability to control his sleep time. People who suffer from narcolepsy have difficulty controlling drowsiness especially during the day and it is difficult to stay awake for a long time so they can fall asleep at any time even though they are on the move.

Narcolepsy is usually suffered by those between the ages of 15 and 25, although actually anyone of all ages can suffer from this disorder. In many cases, narcolepsy is usually not detected and diagnosed so that it is not treated.

What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?

Excessive drowsiness during the day: those who suffer from narcolepsy usually have difficulty getting up and staying concentrated during the day, the time when a person usually moves.
Sleep attacks: fell asleep suddenly without any warning or signs beforehand. Narcolepsy sufferers can fall asleep while working and even drive, and when they wake up they will not remember what happened.
Katapleksi: a condition in which a person loses control of the strength of his muscles causing a feeling of weakness. Not only can it suddenly fall, cataplexy can also cause a person to have difficulty speaking. Katapleksi can not be controlled and usually tends to be triggered by emotions, both positive emotions (laughing or too excited) and negative emotions (fear, anger, surprise). This situation can take several seconds to several minutes. Not all narcolepsy sufferers experience katapleksi, some will only experience katapleksi one to two times per year while some can experience katapleksi every day.
Sleep paralysis: or often known as ihan overlapping ‘. This situation causes a person to feel paralyzed either during sleep or when they want to wake up. Losing the ability to move and speak is an example of occurrence sleep paralysis. This event can take several seconds to several minutes. Paralysis during sleep usually occurs when a person enters the REM phase (Rapid Eye Movement) during sleep, here is the phase where dreams usually occur so that temporary paralysis appears to prevent us from moving because of a dream.
Hallucinations: the hallucinations referred to are hypnagogic hallucinations (occur when we are asleep) and hypnopompic hallucinations (occur when conscious). Hallucinations can occur when you are half conscious.
Another characteristic that is characteristic of narcolepsy is sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea (a state in which breath suddenly stops many times during sleep), restless leg syndrome, to insomnia. Narcolepsy sufferers may also move while sleeping and dreaming, such as kicking, punching, and shouting.

What causes narcolepsy?

The cause of narcolepsy is still unknown until now. But some cases of narcolepsy are caused by a lack of hypocretin compounds (also called orexin) in the brain. These compounds regulate awareness when you are awake and the state of REM when you fall asleep. Low levels of hypocretin are found in those who suffer from katapleksi. Although there is no explanation why the production of hypocretin in the brain can be reduced, the researchers suspect there is a connection between this and autoimmune problems.

Some studies indicate a link between narcolepsy and the exposure of a person to the H1N1 virus (swine flu) and H1N1 vaccine. But there is no further explanation whether the virus directly triggers narcolepsy or exposure to H1N1 increases the risk of someone suffering from narcolepsy later on. In some cases, genetics also play a role in the occurrence of narcolepsy.

What is the difference between normal sleep patterns and narcolepsy?

Normal sleep patterns will usually go through two phases, namely Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM). In the NREM phase, signal waves in the brain slowly decrease. After several hours, the REM phase will begin. At this stage we usually start dreaming. However, narcolepsy sufferers will immediately enter the REM sleep phase without going through the NREM phase. Some characteristics of REM phase such as katapleksi, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations can occur in a conscious state in narcolepsy sufferers.

How to cure narcolepsy?

Until now there is no method that can cure narcolepsy completely. But some symptoms of narcolepsy can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication. Doctors will prescribe drugs that can control drowsiness during the day, prevent katapleksi attacks, to improve the quality of sleep at night. The type of medication given is usually a stimulant that can work to stimulate the central nervous system to help narcolepsy sufferers stay awake during the day.

Having a sleep schedule can help people with narcolepsy overcome excessive drowsiness. A nap for 20 minutes can help to restore concentration. Also try to go to bed at night and wake up at the same time every day. Avoiding alcohol and nicotine and diligent physical activity can help prevent the symptoms of narcolepsy from getting worse.

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