Narcolepsy

Signs & symptoms

嗜睡症的标志性症状是白天过度嗜睡(EDS)。, 在这种情况下，一个人在想醒的时候睡着了. EDS可能包括有或无预警的白天睡眠发作, 在人清醒状态之间持续的困倦和短暂的睡眠.

Other symptoms may include:

• Cataplexy. 大多数嗜睡症患者都会经历某种程度的猝倒, 这被定义为突然失去随意肌肉控制. 发作时可能只会有轻微的无力感和肌肉无力感，比如面部肌肉松弛, nodding head, buckling knees, 手臂失去力量，言语混乱——或者也可能导致全身立即崩溃. These attacks are usually triggered by intense emotions, such as laughter, surprise, anger, stress and fear, and can last anywhere from a few seconds to thirty minutes.
• Sleep paralysis. For a brief period when falling asleep or waking up, a person with narcolepsy may be unable to talk or move.
• Hypnagogic hallucinations. These are defined as vivid, 现实的，典型的，可怕的梦发生在一个人入睡的时候.
• Automatic behavior. This occurs when familiar or routine tasks, such as making coffee in the morning, getting the paper and taking a shower, are performed without full memory or awareness of them.
• Fragmented nighttime sleep. In addition to having trouble with sleep during the day, people with narcolepsy also tend to sleep poorly at night, waking up often.

Diagnosis

To diagnose narcolepsy, 你的十大赌博平台排行榜会给你做身体检查，询问你的病史和症状. 此外，还有一些测试可以帮助诊断嗜睡症:

• Polysomnogram. These tests, performed in an overnight sleep laboratory，测量脑电波和身体运动，以及你的神经和肌肉功能.
• Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). 这个测试测量你入睡和进入深度睡眠所需的时间，同时在一段时间内小睡几次.
• Genetic blood tests. 这些测试检查的是在有嗜睡症遗传倾向的人身上经常发现的特定抗原.

Treatments

治疗发作性睡病通常需要药物来提高白天的警觉性，减少发作和其他症状. Stimulants are usually prescribed to improve alertness. 抗抑郁药以及一种叫做γ -羟基丁酸酯的新药, or Xyrem, may be used to control cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Stimulants

Common stimulants include the following:

• Dextroamphetamine sulfate, or Dexedrine
• Methylphenidate hydrochloride, or Ritalin
• Pemoline, or Cylert
• Modafinil, or Provigil

当你服用这些药物时，你可能会遇到一些常见的兴奋剂副作用. 包括头痛、易怒、紧张、失眠、心律不齐和情绪变化.

Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which go by the brand names Vivactil and Tofranil, are typically used to control cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations.

Side effects of antidepressants vary, but you may experience drowsiness, sexual dysfunction and lowered blood pressure. Although uncommon, serotin reuptake inhibitors may cause overexcitement, anxiety, insomnia, nausea and sexual dysfunction.

Other treatments

Medication is just one aspect of treatment for narcolepsy. There are other simple things you can do to improve your sleep habits, including:

• 每天小睡几次或一次，以控制困倦和睡眠发作.
• 养成在同一时间睡觉和起床的习惯.
• Use your bed for sleep and sex only.
• 下午晚些时候或晚上不要摄入咖啡因、尼古丁或酒精.
• Exercise regularly, but at least three hours before bedtime.
• 尽量避免可能引发中风发作的激动或紧张的情况.