Sleeping Disorders
Daily Blogs
Lets talk about NARCOLOSY
What is it ?
- Where people frequently feel sleepy during the day
- Experience sudden inexplicable urges to sleep otherwise known as sleep “attacks”
- May fall asleep suddenly anywhere and anytime
Symptoms
- Cataplexy (loss of muscle control)
- Hallucinations
- Sleep paralysis
- Nighttime wakefulness
- Rapid entry into REM sleep
Causes ?
- The cause of narcolepsy is not known
- However, research has been able to identify genes strongly associated with the disorder.
- These genes control the production of chemicals in the brain that may signal sleep and awake cycles.
- Some scientists think narcolepsy may be because of a deficiency in the production of a chemical called hypocretin
- Researchers have also discovered abnormalities in the part of the brain that regulates REM sleep
Treatment
- No cure for narcolepsy
- However drug treatment is used to lessen symtoms
- Sleepiness is treated with amphetamine-like stimulants.
- Symptoms related to abnormal REM sleep are treated with antidepressant drugs.
For more information Watch the short video below
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Sleepy Man : Dee Daud - National Geographic Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy Stories
Kendra Larbee
Micki larrbee, describes how harshly her daughter Kendras’s life was affected after she was diagnosed with narcolepsy. She talks about when she realized Kendra would “ never have her “old” self back again” and the challenges Kendra faced with her education, and mental health.
Narcolepsy Gallery
April 21st 2015
Sleeping Beauty Disorder ?
What is it ?
- Sleeping beauty disorder formally known as Kleine-Levin Syndrome(KLS) is a rare, neurological sleeping disorder
- Can be characterized by “recurring periods of excessive amounts of sleep, altered behavior and a reduced understanding of the world”
Symptoms (when awake) :
- Irritability
- Lack of energy
- Lack of emotions
- May also appear confused (disoriented)
- Experience hallucinations
Causes
- The exact cause of Kleine-Levin syndrome is not known.
- However researchers have found that hereditary factors may cause some individuals to have a higher chance of developing the disorder
- May be related to malfunction of the hypothalamus (portion of the brain that helps to regulate functions such as sleep, appetite, and body temperature)
Treatment
- There is no treatment for KLS
- Though some studies have shown that some patients grow out of it ( stop experiencing symptoms)
For more information Watch the short video below
Or click here to open video in new tab
Alanna Wong featured on Anderson Cooper speaks about Kleine Levin Syndrome (KLS)
KLS stories
Kaitlyn Terrana
Kaitlyn Terrana was diagnosed with Kleine-Levin Sydrome(KLS) around her 15th birthday. In this article she describes the challenges she goes through on a daily basis and how she deals with KLS.
Lily Clarke
Lilly Clarke went years without a proper diagnosis of this disorder. In this article she talks about the challenges she faced mainly around not knowing what was wrong with her and the affects that KLS has on her education and social life.