Narcolepsy Health Dictionary

Cataplexy is a condition in which the patient has a sudden attack of muscular weakness affecting the whole body. (See also NARCOLEPSY.)... cataplexy

A group of drugs closely related to ADRENALINE which act by stimulating the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. When taken by mouth they have a profound stimulating e?ect on the brain, producing a sense of well-being and con?dence and seemingly increasing the capacity for mental work. They are, however, drugs of DEPENDENCE and their medical use is now strictly limited – for example, to the treatment of NARCOLEPSY.

Because amphetamines inhibit appetite, they rapidly achieved a reputation for slimming purposes. However, they should not be used for this purpose; their dangers far outweigh their advantages.... amphetamines

The sensation of being unable to move at the moment of going to sleep or when waking up, usually lasting only a few seconds. It may be accompanied by hallucinations. Sleep paralysis most often occurs in people with narcolepsy. (See also cataplexy.)... sleep paralysis

A drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It can be used to treat NARCOLEPSY and hyperactive children but should not be used to combat obesity or treat depression. It is also a drug of abuse.... dexamphetamine

There are three main groups of SLEEP disorders:

Parasomnias These include medical disorders such as ASTHMA, ANGINA PECTORIS or EPILEPSY which are made worse by sleep, and a range of behavioural alterations which are usually related to a speci?c sleep stage or to a change from one state of sleep to another. Sleepwalking, night terrors, and nightmares are examples.

Insomnia Insomnia is de?ned as a di?culty in initiating or maintaining sleep. It affects around 15 per cent of the population at any one time, and is often due to a poor pre-sleep routine (e.g. taking excessive stimulants such as ca?eine); unsatisfactory sleep due to poor environments such as an uncomfortable bed or a cold or noisy bedroom; anxiety and/or depression; or occasionally to a physical problem – for example, pain – or a medical disorder associated with sleep such as obstructive SLEEP APNOEAS or periodic limb movements.

Excessive daytime sleepiness This is usually due to sleep deprivation caused either by inadequate duration of sleep, or by poor quality of sleep. The individual’s lifestyle is often a cause and modi?cation of this may relieve the problem. Other common causes of excessive daytime sleepiness are depression, obstructive sleep apnoeas, periodic limb movements, excessive alcohol or other drug intake, and, less commonly, NARCOLEPSY.... sleep, disorders of

A group of stimulant drugs used mainly in the treatment of narcolepsy (a rare disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness).

In high doses, amfetamines can cause tremor, sweating, anxiety, and sleeping problems. Delusions, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and seizures may also occur. Prolonged use may produce tolerance and drug dependence.

Amfetamines are often abused for their stimulant effect.... amfetamine drugs

A central nervous system stimulant (see amfetamine drugs; stimulant drugs) sometimes used to treat narcolepsy. It is also used in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Because of its stimulant properties, dexamfetamine has become a drug of abuse. With prolonged use, the stimulant effects lessen and a higher dose must be taken to produce the same effect.... dexamfetamine

The natural state of lowered consciousness and reduced metabolism.

There are 2 types of sleep: (rapid eye movement) and (nonrapid eye movement) sleep, which alternate in cycles. sleep consists of 4 stages of progressively greater “depth”, with slowing of brain activity. In sleep, the brain becomes more active; the eyes move rapidly and dreaming occurs.

Sleep is a fundamental human need, as shown by the effects of sleep deprivation, although its purpose is not understood in detail. The need for sleep varies from person to person and decreases with age. Sleep disorders include difficulty in falling or remaining asleep (see insomnia); difficulty in staying awake (see narcolepsy); disruption of sleep by jetlag and bed-wetting, night terrors, or sleepwalking. (See also sleep apnoea.)... sleep

n. a recently discovered neuropeptide that originates in the hypothalamus. Low levels of hypocretin in the cerebrospinal fluid are found in most patients with *narcolepsy and may also be found in patients who have suffered with stroke, brain tumours, head injuries, and infections of the nervous system.... hypocretin

Whether you are dealing with sleepless nights or you feel too tired during the day, you can try to solve this problem with tea. As it is a natural beverage, it brings along various other health benefits. Find out more about teas for sleep! Sleep problems tea can solve Sleep can become a problem when we either can’t sleep during the night or we feel like we don’t  get enough sleep. Sleepless nights can have various causes. We can get them because we feel stressed, anxious or depressed. They can also be caused by the medication we might be taking. Various diseases can lead to sleep problems, as well. These include asthma, various allergies, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, acid reflux, kidney disease, cancer or chronic pain, or even sleep-related diseases such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or restless legs syndrome. Lastly, beverages that contain caffeine can lead to sleepless nights. As for feeling tired despite having slept during the night, this happens mostly because stress and anxiousness, or because of various diseases (celiac disease, anemia, underactive thyroid, diabetes). Tea can help reduce both sleeping problems and fatigue. Though not as strong as medication, it counts as an important, natural element of the treatment. Varieties of tea for sleep There are a few types of tea that can help you when you’re dealing with sleepless nights. Valerian tea is often recommended when you’ve got trouble sleeping. This tea allows endomorphins in your body to be released easier and therefore reduces sleep problems. Chamomile tea is another tea for sleep; it reduces stress and anxiety levels and can therefore help you relax and get a good night’s sleep. Lavender is also known for helping people relax, so drinking a cup of lavender tea before bed can help a lot, too. Other herbal teas with similar properties include basil tea, catnip tea, fennel tea, honeybush tea, kava tea, lemon balm tea, motherwort tea, passion flower tea, peppermint tea, reishi tea, schizandra tea, and skullcap tea. Side effects of tea for sleep While these types of tea help when it comes to sleeping problems, consumption of each tea can lead to a few side effects. This is why it is recommended that you talk with your doctor first, before deciding to drink tea daily, as part of your treatment. Make sure you won’t get allergic reactions caused by the tea’s main ingredient. Also, avoid teas for sleep (and most types of tea) during pregnancy and nursing periods. Chamomile tea should not be drunk by people with bleeding disorders. Valerian tea should not be consumed in large quantities, as it might lead to headaches and stomach problems. Tea to get rid of fatigue The types of tea that can help you get rid of fatigue are the ones you should not drink when you’ve got sleeping problems. A cup in the morning can be safe, though you definitely shouldn’t drink it at night, before bed. Tea that contains caffeine helps fight off feelings of tiredness. These include the types of tea made from the Camellia Sinensis plant: green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea. Drinking a cup of one of these teas, in the morning, can increase your mental alertness and scare off fatigue. However, make sure you can drink types of tea that contain caffeine. If caffeine is not good for you, it might lead to unpleasant side effects: headaches, nervousness, sleep problems, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeats, tremors, dizziness, or ringing in the ears. No matter the problem, whether you have trouble sleeping or you feel tired during the day, choose a type of tea that can help you. This hot beverage can count as a natural treatment which will also bring other health benefits. Enjoy your cup of tea for sleep!... tea for sleep

n. a false sensory perception of something that is not really there; the perception is subjectively convincing but lacks an external stimulus. Hallucinations may be visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory (of taste), or olfactory (of smell). They may be provoked by mental illness (such as *schizophrenia or severe anxiety disorders), *personality disorders, or physical disorders affecting the brain (such as temporal lobe *epilepsy, sepsis, acute organic syndrome, or stroke) or they may be caused by drugs, alcohol, or sensory deprivation. Hallucinations should be distinguished from dreams and from *illusions (which are misinterpretations of real stimuli). A substantial minority of the population experiences hallucinations not caused by mental illness. Some hallucinations are not always pathological: hypnagogic hallucinations occur in the state between wakefulness and sleep, and the images are often very distinct; these hallucinations occur in 30–60% of patients with *narcolepsy. Hypnopompic hallucinations occur in the state between sleep and full wakefulness; like hypnagogic hallucinations, the experiences may be very vivid.... hallucination

n. an event with symptoms that mimic an epileptic seizure but that does not involve abnormal discharges of cortical neurons that would be captured on an EEG. It can be caused by both physiological and psychological conditions. Physiological causes include syncopes, cataplexy, migraine, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and tics. Psychological non-epileptic seizures, also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, can arise from acute distress or anxiety or in the context of a *somatic symptom. People who suffer from epilepsy may have non-epileptic seizures as well. The main visible difference between a non-epileptic seizure and an epileptic seizure is that the former commonly lasts longer than two minutes and can last up to 30 minutes. Also there is occasional pelvic thrusting, the patient’s eyes and mouth are typically closed, and side-to-side head movements are more common than in epileptic seizures. Crying or talking during the attack is possible. There is no *postictal phase. Other names for non-epileptic seizures include pseudo seizures, functional seizures, and conversion seizures.... non-epileptic seizure