Question:How can i prevent sleepiness?I
am a college student and I usually feel sleepy during class hours. can
you please give me ways on how to prevent it? well I sleep at night at
around 10 and rise at 5. thank you!
Answer:
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Also, an apple in the morning would wake you up faster than caffeine.
It's proven to be true!!
Narcolepsy - from the Basics to Advanced Information
Narcoleptics, no matter how much
they sleep, continue to experience a
irresistible
need to sleep. People with narcolepsy can fall asleep while at work,
talking, and driving a car for example. These
"sleep
attacks" can last from 30 seconds to more than 30 minutes. They
may also experience periods of
cataplexy (loss
of muscle tone) ranging from a slight buckling at the knees to a complete,
"rag doll" limpness throughout the body.
Narcolepsy
is a chronic disorder affecting the brain where regulation of sleep and
wakefulness take place. Narcolepsy can be thought of as an intrusion of
dreaming sleep (REM) into the waking state.
The prevalence
of narcolepsy has been calculated at about 0.03%
of the general population. Its onset can occur at any time throughout life,
but its peek onset is during the teen years. Narcolepsy has been found to
be hereditary along with some environmental
factors.
Symptoms
- Excessive sleepiness.
- Temporary decrease or loss of muscle control, especially when getting excited.
- Vivid dream-like images
when drifting off to sleep or waking up.
- Waking up unable to move
or talk for a brief time.
Simple Test
for Narcolepsy:
-
Do you feel like you could sleep for days and still wake up sleepy?/definitely
- Do you ever collapse or
feel weak when laughing?/err, never tried to notice
- Do you ever collapse or
feel weak when angry?/haha, nope
-
Are you afraid you may
fall asleep while swimming?/.................
-
Are you afraid you may
fall asleep while taking a bath?/im still not to tht extent
-
Did one of your parents
or close relatives have the "sleeping sickness"?/not tht i know of
Narcolepsy in Depth
Narcolepsy
is a disabling disorder of sleep regulation that affects the control of
sleep and wakefulness. It may be described as an intrusion of the dream
sleep (called REM or rapid eye movement) into the waking state. Symptoms
generally begin between the ages of 15 and 30. The four
classic symptoms of the disorder are excessive
daytime sleepiness; cataplexy (sudden,
brief episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis brought on by strong emotions
such as laughter, anger, surprise or anticipation); sleep
paralysis (paralysis upon falling asleep or waking up); and hypnagogic
hallucinations (vivid dreamlike images that occur at sleep onset).
Disturbed nighttime sleep, including tossing
and turning in bed, leg jerks, nightmares, and frequent awakenings, may
also occur. The development, number and severity of symptoms vary widely
among individuals with the disorder. There appears to be an important genetic
component to the disorder as well.
Excessive
sleepiness is usually
the first symptom of narcolepsy. Patients with the disorder experience irresistible
sleep attacks, throughout the day, which can last for 30 seconds to more
than 30 minutes, regardless of the amount or quality of prior nighttime
sleep. These attacks result in episodes of sleep at work and social events,
while eating, talking and driving, and in other similarly inappropriate
occasions. Although narcolepsy is not a rare disorder, it is often misdiagnosed
or diagnosed only years after symptoms first appear. Early diagnosis and
treatment, however, are important to the physical and mental well-being
of the affected individual.
TREATMENT:
There is no cure for narcolepsy; however, the symptoms can be controlled
with behavioral and medical therapy. The excessive
daytime sleepiness may be treated with stimulant drugs, while cataplexy
and other REM-sleep symptoms may be treated with antidepressant medications.
At best, medications will reduce the symptoms, but will not alleviate them
entirely. Also, some medications may have side effects. Basic lifestyle
adjustments such as keeping a good sleep schedule, improving diet, increasing
exercise and avoiding "exciting" situations may also help to reduce the
effects of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy.
PROGNOSIS:
Although narcolepsy is a life-long condition, most individuals with the
disorder enjoy a near-normal lifestyle with adequate medication and support
from teachers, employers, and families. If not properly diagnosed and treated,
narcolepsy may have a devastating impact on the life of the affected individual,
causing social, psychological, and financial difficulties.
http://www.sleepnet.com/narcolepsy.html
harhar... i dont believe tht im a narcoleptic.. am i? hehe
so i took the sleeping test:
Sleep Test Results
This test may help you recognize and detect symptoms of sleep disorders. The test is intended as a general source of educational information and does not contain medical advice. It should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Getting an evaluation by your own personal physician is the best way to determine if you have a sleep/wake disorder.
Your Sleep Test Results
You show symptoms of narcolepsy, a life-long disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks during normal waking hours.
T_T tests dont mean anything, right??
anyhow, im becoming more n more notorious bcoz of this thing (duh) :S - its not the kind of mencapap tht i'd prefer though ^^
tralala... help mee....
[my mom says maybe im influenced by adek, babies are supposed to sleep up to 20 hours a say right? maybe mase kecik i didnt get those 20 hours kot... so sesi mengqadha' has just started.. haha, lol..]
im imagining in class, while the teacher is teaching, and suddenly he/she catches me showing symptoms of taking a nap [haha - eyes droopy, nodding head, fluttering eyelids n etc.]. is it appropiate to say "sorryla teacher, but I hv narcolepsy" ?
daa, definitely no
so narcoleptic or not, its not an excuse, kay?
[im feeling sleepy just thinking abt it ><]
