Excessive daytime sleepiness or narcolepsy is characterized by exaggerated daytime sleepiness and the inability to control falling sleep even in unusual working hours, activities and places. Nearly three million people are affected by narcolepsy around the world. Narcoleptics or the term used for sufferers of the condition takes about ten minutes to achieve the REM or Rapid Eye Movement state whereas in normal people it takes about thirty minutes.
One of the major problems given by the disease is cataplexy. It is the sudden loss of muscular strength without warning anytime and anywhere. It often manifests drooping of the facial muscles, sudden drop of shoulders to one side, slurred speech, jaw dropping and weakening of the knees. Vision and speech are affected but awareness and speech remains the same. Episodes are known to be triggered by extremes of emotions like laughter, sadness, excitement and euphoria.
Long after excessive daytime sleepiness has been discovered it has been theorized the risks of developing the disease is high among people who had a traumatic experience, injury to the head, infection, exposure to toxins and brain chemical and neurotransmitter disturbance. But recent studies reveal that genetic and hereditary factors greatly uplift the risk of excessive daytime sleepiness.
There found to be a direct link between narcoleptics and Chromosome 6 widely named as the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) complex. Certain deviations in the HLA area in the brain like the production of specific proteins specifically hypocretin is correlated with narcoleptics. The protein responsible for hunger and sleep wake roles of the brain. A great reduction of this protein was found in the brain for narcoleptic sufferers.
Considering the numerous scientific theories and studies conducted, the main cause of narcolepsy is still unclear.
More than excessive daytime sleepiness, it does not only affect the physical profile of the person but the emotional and psychological wellness as well. People with narcolepsy are at high risk of social embarrassment due to uncontrolled sleepiness. In addition to embarrassment the person is most likely to develop social phobia and withdrawal. Depression is also considered a secondary effect of narcolepsy.
Persons affected are also in great risk of injury, harm and accidents. In coordination with the pharmacologic treatment, psychiatric counseling gives beneficial feedback to the patient.
Excessive daytime sleepiness is highly manageable provided the person who suffers the condition follows the complete therapy, counseling regimen and safety measures to control the symptoms of narcolepsy.
