Narcolepsy.. Too much sleep during daytime?

I came across this article when I am looking at some status while I saw this and get a shock. At first I look at this word, NARCOLEPSY,then the definition. It attract me at once as soon as I saw the word excessive sleepiness during the day(known as sleep attack). I am a person who likes to sleep for long hours and don't know when I didn't feel sleepy even though I did not have any work before. But after I got good timetable and eat light meals and vegetables + vitamins, it greatly helps my concentration especially in class!
Now only I came across this article and wondering if I gt this kind of sickness before I got my concentration back. So I make some research on net and would like to share it out here. ^^

So,what is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the main symptom and is present in 100% of patients with narcolepsy.

People with narcolepsy often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances. Narcolepsy can cause serious disruptions in your daily routine.

Contrary to what some people believe, narcolepsy isn't related to depression, seizure disorders, fainting, simple lack of sleep or other conditions that may cause abnormal sleep patterns.

In short,Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes excessive sleepiness and frequent daytime sleep attacks.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

I found several articles online and most said that the cause is still unknown yet.

While some got opinions like,in some patients, narcolepsy is linked to reduced amounts of a protein called hypocretin, which is made in the brain.
However which causes the brain to produce less of this protein is unclear.

There is a possibility that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disorder is when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

Narcolepsy tends to run in families. Certain genes are linked to narcolepsy.But this certainly does not suit me cause my family members are very good and normal..

Symptoms
Symptoms of narcolepsy may worsen for the first few years, and then continue for life. They include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness. The primary characteristics of narcolepsy are overwhelming drowsiness and an uncontrollable need to sleep during the day. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere, anytime. For example, you may suddenly nod off while working or talking with friends. You may sleep for a few minutes or up to a half-hour before awakening and feeling refreshed, but eventually you fall asleep again. You also may experience decreased alertness throughout the day. Excessive daytime sleepiness usually is the first symptom to appear and is often the most troublesome, making it difficult for you to concentrate and function fully.

Sudden loss of muscle tone. This condition, called cataplexy, can cause a number of physical changes, from slurred speech to complete weakness of most muscles, and may last for a few seconds to a few minutes. Cataplexy is uncontrollable and is often triggered by intense emotions, usually positive ones such as laughter or excitement, but sometimes fear, surprise or anger. For example, your head may droop uncontrollably or your knees may suddenly buckle when you laugh. Some people with narcolepsy experience only one or two episodes of cataplexy a year, while others have numerous episodes daily.

Sleep paralysis. People with narcolepsy often experience a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking. These episodes are usually brief — lasting one or two minutes — but can be frightening. You may be aware of the condition and have no difficulty recalling it afterward, even if you had no control over what was happening to you. This sleep paralysis mimics the type of temporary paralysis that normally occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the period of sleep during which most dreaming occurs. This temporary immobility during REM sleep may prevent your body from acting out dream activity. Not everyone with sleep paralysis has narcolepsy, however. Many people without narcolepsy experience some episodes of sleep paralysis, especially in young adulthood.

Hallucinations. These hallucinations, called hypnagogic hallucinations, may occur when falling quickly into REM sleep, as you do when you first fall asleep, or upon waking. Because you may be semiawake when you begin dreaming, you experience your dreams as reality, and they may be particularly vivid and frightening.

Other characteristics.
People with narcolepsy may have other sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing starts and stops throughout the night, restless legs syndrome and even insomnia. People with narcolepsy may also act out their dreams at night by flailing their arms or kicking and screaming.

Some episodes of sleep attacks are brief, lasting seconds. Some people with narcolepsy experience automatic behavior during these brief episodes. For example, you may fall asleep while performing a task you normally perform, such as writing, typing or driving, and you continue to function while asleep. When you awaken, you can't remember what you did, and you probably didn't do it well. For instance, if you were writing, what you wrote asleep may look like scribbling.

The signs and symptoms of narcolepsy can begin anytime up to your 50s, but they most commonly begin between the ages of 10 and 25. Symptoms often are more severe for those who develop them early in life, rather than in adulthood.

Narcolepsy usually begins in teenagers or young adults. The first symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness, which may remain unrecognized for a long time in that it develops gradually over time. The other symptoms can follow excessive daytime sleepiness by months or years.

Patients with narcolepsy may have inability to move or talk (sleep paralysis).
Additional symptoms include disturbed nocturnal sleep and automatic behavior (patients carry out certain actions without conscious awareness).
All of the symptoms of narcolepsy may be present in various combinations and degrees of severity.


Complications


Public misunderstanding of the condition
Narcolepsy may cause serious problems for you professionally and personally. Others might see you as lazy, lethargic or rude. Your performance may suffer at school or work.

Interference with intimate relationships
Extreme sleepiness may cause low sex drive or impotence, and people with narcolepsy may even fall asleep while having sex. The problems caused by sexual dysfunction can be further complicated by emotional difficulties. Intense feelings, such as anger or joy, can trigger some signs of narcolepsy such as cataplexy, causing affected people to withdraw from emotional interactions.

Physical harm
Sleep attacks may result in physical harm to people with narcolepsy. You're at increased risk of a car accident if you have an attack while driving. Your risk of cuts and burns is greater if you fall asleep while preparing food.

How to cope??
Lifestyle modifications are important in managing the symptoms of narcolepsy. You may benefit from these steps:

Stick to a schedule. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends.

Take naps. Schedule short naps at regular intervals during the day. Naps of 20 minutes at strategic times during the day may be refreshing and reduce sleepiness for one to three hours. Some people may need longer naps.or you could plan naps to control daytime sleep and reduce the number of unplanned, sudden sleep attacks. YOu can also schedule a brief nap (10 to 15 minutes) after meals, if possible

Avoid nicotine and alcohol. Using these substances, especially at night, can worsen your signs and symptoms.

Get regular exercise. Moderate, regular exercise at least four to five hours before bedtime may help you feel more awake during the day and sleep better at night.

Eating light or vegetarian meals during the day and avoiding heavy meals before important activities

Telling teachers and supervisors about the condition so you are not punished for being "lazy" at school

There are also some medication that they advice patients to use but I don't like the sound of that. In my opinion we can still heal ourselves by having a healthy lifestyle and take care of ourselves as good as possible.Be safe.

p/s Don't wait for your prince to come and save you but to save yourself first when you already know what is happening to yourself.

~We Survive

References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001805/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcolepsy/DS00345/DSECTION=coping-and-support