Diurnal hypersomnolence: clinical presentation, etiologic foundations, and contemporary management approaches in narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a relatively rare neurological disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness and sleep attacks during wakefulness. Usually at the very beginning of the disease, the person suffering from narcolepsy does not realize the severity of the situation. Sleep attacks can occur multiple times during the day and can last for 10 to 20 minutes. Symptoms can appear at any age. Its causes are due to a lack of hypocretin, a protein responsible for regulating sleep and wakefulness processes and conducting impulses during sleep.

Narcolepsy refers to a triad of major symptoms: daytime sleepiness, cataplexes, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. Sleep attacks occur suddenly and are completely unpredictable. An insurmountable feeling of sleepiness occurs during the day and in various situations, such as during a conversation. Such incidents can last for a very short time, about five minutes, and sometimes 20 minutes. Cataplex is a typical symptom of narcolepsy. It manifests itself in the loss of control of muscle tension caused by various hallucigenic issues (hallucinogens, gums, etc.).

Narcolepsy is a hereditary disease that can affect people of any age, both women and men. To date, the etiology of the disease has not been fully understood. As we mentioned earlier, the disease is associated with a deficiency of hypocretin, which controls sleep and wakefulness processes and sends appropriate impulses to the brain.

As there has been no consistent cause of the disease so far, the treatment of narcolepsy comes down to alleviating its symptoms. Patients are given antidepressant medications that stimulate the central nervous system, which prevent attacks of sleep during the day, allowing normal functioning. In addition, a regular rhythm of sleep and wakefulness, as well as waking and sleeping times are recommended. Physical activity, adequate hours of sleep at night, and withdrawal from exercise can be helpful. Narcolepsy is a rather strange disease that can be taken for an inappropriate lifestyle, or it can have a number of normal rest periods.