ADHD

Home > Blog

Category: ADHD

CategoriesADHD,  Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy Diet and Food Habits Effect on Narcolepsy

by Annie Barraza

What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a disease that causes serious sleeping disorders to rise to the surface. At any time (especially during the day) narcolepsy victims experience sleep attack. Irrespective of time and place the sleep attack creates an embarrassing situation. Most Narcolepsy patients are depressed and hesitate to join in at any social or family events. This sleeping disorder can be threat for their professional life too. However, with more improved medical treatments and other therapies it is quite easy to heal diseases like cancer and others. Just a few changes in lifestyle and other practices can dramatically help to restore normalcy in a patient’s life.

Find out if you really suffer from Narcolepsy

A Narcoleptic patient has to go through two different levels of testing. This is the basic diagnosis of Narcolepsis. At the first level you go through a kind of Sonography. Polysogram is the first level. During this test more than two dozen electrodes are attached to different part of the body like nose, hand, abdomen and others. They transfer data to polysonogrph that records all the information. This helps the experienced professionals to diagnose the disease properly.

In the second level, the test will be on MLST or multiple sleep latency. This particular tool is used to record the time gap of daytime naps.

If you experience the effects of a sleeping disorder frequently, don’t ignore those symptoms. Often people consider them as general symptoms and later face severe difficulties in personal and professional life. When you have the option to prevent it, then why not start as soon as possible.

Take care of your food habits

For Narcoleptics, it is not good to drink alcohol. It is kind of depressant that weakens the nervous system and creates feelings of drowsiness. Therefore, for better sleep when it is an appropriate time to do so, it is best to avoid alcohol or any nicotine.

There are several side effects of sleepless nights. If you are not able to sleep properly at night, you won’t be able to work properly or concentrate on anything; this can result in other serious symptoms. Good sleep can enhance the working capacity of your brain. Thus don’t suppress it with alcohol or other intoxicants and try to sleep peacefully at night.

Not only does alcohol or caffeine affect sleep, but there are also specific dietary habits that can have a long-term effect on your sleep. Your food habits require changes if you experience sleeping disorder symptoms on a frequent basis. High protein or high-energy foods are good for those who suffer from the condition. It is also best to avoid junks or spicy food. This type of food affects the metabolism and the digestive system of your body and can result in Narcolepsy attacks. Try to eat a heavy meal at least five hours before you go to sleep. Don’t exercise after a heavy meal. If you can walk for fifteen or twenty minutes after your meals, it would definitely help you to sleep well at night. Drink water after an hour or two of eating food. You can also consult a nutritionist to get suggestions on a better, more helpful diet.

Many Narcoleptic people wake up at night to have something and they can’t sleep again until they eat. This is why majority of Narcoleptics end up gaining weight. When they wake up between sleep cycles, they are totally oblivious what had happened before. Still, a clue from the kitchen can help them to remember the whole scenario. It is not that they are hungry or they have the appetite to eat something. People facing this issue should try to stay away from food when they don’t need it. It won’t be very easy to avoid it at an advanced stage. Often you will fail to control the situation. Still if you try it now, you are bound to succeed once a positive habit has been formed.

Change your sleeping habit

As it is has been said earlier, sleeping disorders are the primary symptom of Narcolepsy. To prevent sleep attacks, a good, deep sleep at night is very important. After a certain time at night, forget all your office works or any other issues, no matter how important they are. If you want a productive morning, utilize the night. Try to sleep and awake at the same time every day. Sleep in dark and quiet room. For better sleep, try something that relaxes you. Drinking lukewarm milk or bathing in a warn tub before going to bed are some things worth mentioning. Narcolepsy patients can’t sleep for a long time at a stretch. In order to sleep properly, take a break of twenty minute. If it still doesn’t work, then read some books or magazines until you feel sleepy.

A daytime nap is good relief for Narcoleptics. Plan your daytime schedule so that you can get at least 15 to 20 minutes to take a nap. To avoid sleeping frequently during office hours, daytime napping is the best alternative, and some work environments may even have areas that would be convenient and discreet for taking a quick catnap while on break.

Regular exercise is good for Narcoleptics

Don’t forget to exercise regularly. It is well known that many Narcoleptics have been helped by yoga and other exercise forms. If you find it difficult to exercise, a brisk walk in the morning can be of great help. Exercise or walking increases the body strength and improves the metabolism of your body. Thus you can remain active during the day and enjoy a sound sleep at night.

Narcolepsy is not an incurable disease. If you can change your lifestyle, you can soon come out of it and you can also go for medication and natural therapies to get added relief. There are several holistic practices available that can help too. No matter what method you follow, practice it properly. Listen to what your doctor or mentor or nutritionist advises you, and don’t try to do it all on your own.

CategoriesADHD,  Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy Research – Reaching for a Cure

by Annie Barraza

Narcolepsy is a very serious, chronic sleep disorder that affects one in every two thousand people in the United States alone. Worldwide, the estimates of people living with the symptoms of narcolepsy reach over three million. Research on narcolepsy is among the top in all medical research fields, due to the seriousness of this condition. A better understanding of narcolepsy will ultimately lead to better understanding of other sleep disorders, which is why so much attention has been drawn towards narcolepsy research.

To research narcolepsy accurately, scientist not only do laboratory sleep studies, but they also depend on the information provided by the patients themselves. By keeping journals or recording episodes that occur, a patient can help researchers discover side effects of medications, episode time frames and so on. Unfortunately, this side of the research is needed, but since correct diagnosis is hard to determine, making it a truly priceless side of the research when it is attained.

Narcolepsy Basics

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that has two different international classifications: narcolepsy without cataplexy and narcolepsy with cataplexy.

Narcolepsy has four major symptoms: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), Sleep Paralysis, Hallucinations and cataplexy.  Although there are several secondary symptoms, these are the classic symptoms seen in most patients.

EDS is pretty straight forward.  Patients with narcolepsy experience a desire to sleep that is so strong it becomes an irresistible need.

Sleep Paralysis is occasionally experienced by a large number of people without narcolepsy.  Narcolepsy patients that have sleep paralysis as a symptom tend to experience it more often.  Sleep paralysis happens in the twilight between the sleep and wake cycles. The mind is not yet asleep but the body undergoes the paralysis that usually comes with REM sleep.  Often, the subject will also experience hallucinations.

Hallucinations are common for the narcoleptic. Hallucination research and narcolepsy research show that narcolepsy patients have a similar amount of hallucinations as patients suffering from schizophrenia but narcoleptic hallucinations tend to be more visual whereas schizophrenics have more auditory hallucinations.

Cataplexy is experienced by seventy percent of narcoleptics. Cataplexy is peculiar to narcolepsy and it is extremely rare to have cataplexy without narcolepsy.

Cataplexy is the sudden loss of control over muscle function. The affected muscles become lax and lose tone.  Cataplexy usually affects the face or neck, but can appear in any muscle group.  In an extreme instance, the entire body can collapse. The oddest and most frightening thing about a cataplexy attack is that the patient remains alert and awake the whole time. Cataplexy is triggered by strong emotions.

Data collected during research and narcolepsy patient information led scientists to give narcolepsy with cataplexy its own diagnosis.

Research on Narcolepsy

In the early 1970’s, Dr. William Dement founded the Stanford University Sleep Clinic, which was the first clinic in history to specialize in sleep disorder studies. This research center was the first to discover that narcolepsy-cataplexy was linked to a deficiency in hypocretin. This research has been proven in both animal subjects and in human subjects. The Stanford Center for Narcolepsy was created in the 1980’s as an extension of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Today, this facility treats hundreds of narcolepsy patients per year, with many patients freely participating in other sleep studies as well. There have been hundreds of articles written on narcolepsy that give credit to the name of this facility for its extensive research of narcolepsy.

Hypocretin Research and Narcolepsy-Cataplexy

The cause of narcolepsy-cataplexy, in ninety percent of cases, is accredited to a lack of hypocretin-1 and hypocretin-2. The cause of narcolepsy without cataplexy remains a mystery. These molecules that are created in the hypothalamus (hypo) have a resemblance to the gut hormone called secretin (cretin), thus named hypocretin. Of the many billions of cells in the brain, only ten to twenty thousand produce hypocretin. The hypothalamus is also responsible for a host of basic functions of the body. It controls hunger, sexual impulses, blood pressure and sleeping. Hypocretin-1 (not hypocretin-2) can be measured in the cerebrospinal fluid, but not by blood or tissue samples. To collect this cerebrospinal fluid, a spinal tap is necessary. Most patients (about 90%) with narcolepsy-cataplexy have a zero percent level of hypocretin-1.

When trying to control the symptoms of narcolepsy, many things need to be considered. First, the proper diagnosis of the condition is critical. Does this case have cataplexy? Hallucinations?  By asking these types of questions, a doctor can more accurately diagnose narcolepsy. Along with extensive questioning, there are tests and studies that can help in the diagnoses.

A nocturnal Polysomnogram is a test performed with electrodes placed on the patients scalp and measures the electrical activity in the brain and in the heart. This test takes place over night at a medical research facility designated by a physician.

A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (M.S.L.T.) is another test used to determine how long it takes a person to fall asleep during t day. The patient is asked to take five naps, each around two hours apart. Patients suffering with narcolepsy usually fall asleep very quickly and enter into R.E.M. sleep almost immediately.

Management of Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy and Research about its behavior has given doctors a few ideas into the treatment and prevention of its symptoms.  If a patient has mild enough symptoms, then a simple change in lifestyle may be all that is required.  More often, drug treatment in the form of stimulants and antidepressants becomes necessary.

Many times, the fact that there is no cure for this disease causes a feeling of helplessness, but with research awareness in narcolepsy, there is hope. With comprehensive management, a patient with narcolepsy can live a relatively normal life.

Narcolepsy Treatments

  • Lifestyle Changes
    • strict bedtimes
    • strategic daytime naps
    • avoid stimulants like coffee
    • make the people in your life aware of your disease
  • Drug Treatment for EDS
    • Stimulants
      • Amphetamines
      • Modafinil
      • Selegiline
  • Drugs for Cataplexy
    • Tricyclic Antidepressants
      • Imipramine
      • Protriptyline
    • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
      • Prozac
      • Paxil
      • Zoloft
    • Sodium oxybate
      • Xyrem
CategoriesADHD,  Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy in Horses is Genetic

by Annie Barraza

Narcolepsy in Horses is Genetic

The idea that horses can have narcolepsy is kind of an inconceivable concept, because narcolepsy is mainly associated with human beings and not with animals. The effect of narcolepsy in horses is much the same as it is in human beings the sleepiness, disorientation, hallucinations, and mood changes, are all evident in horses with narcolepsy.

Horses and Narcolepsy

In horses the most observable trait is that of narcolepsy with cataplexy, the other traits are harder to recognize. The symptoms of narcolepsy are hard to diagnose in a human patient that can tell the physician exactly what is going on and give and extensive medical history, but for animals that is even harder. This disorder is still being examined and studied, but as time goes by the cause still seems to elude physicians as to why narcolepsy has such an effect on the brain. With every new occurrence of narcolepsy showing up in animals physicians are more prone to believe that the brain is similar in more ways than originally thought.

Signs to Look For in Horses for Narcolepsy

  • depression
  • lack of interest in food
  • fatigue
  • moodiness
  • weak muscles

With these signs and symptoms being noticed in horses, even from a young age, this can make a breeder believe that the horse is from bad stock and sometime the owner puts the animal down because of such negative qualities.  Without there being a proper way to diagnose an animal let alone a horse with narcolepsy, many mistakes are made and eventually the animal suffers massively from this disorder. Veterinarians are working on ways to properly diagnose animals that have the narcoleptic symptoms, almost in the same fashion that physicians are working so earnestly to find a way to properly diagnose and treat this disorder.

Some veterinarians are trying experimental medications high-performance liquid chromatography or HPLC has been used in experiments to determine  if the drug will have a negative or positive effect on the horses and if so what dosage and how often should HPLC be used on the horses. Depending on the severity of the narcoleptic symptoms and the weight of the horse that the injection is being given to the HPLC drug can be very effective.

Narcolepsy and horses make a very interesting study the main thing to look for when it comes to the horse species and narcolepsy is constant fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and the unwillingness to do any form of physical activity. With these initial traits being noticed a trainer or owner has a better chance at identifying what is happening to the horse, if not then the horse can cause muscle problems, malnutrition, and could even cause broken bones from falling, or if hallucinating harm other animals and people around them because the animal could be easily spooked. With narcoleptic horses, it can become harder to train them and work with them because of the general lack of interest, and constant fatigue. Horses suffering from narcolepsy have a harder time going about their daily routines and life, without there being a risk to those around them as well as to their selves because of the lack of muscle control when falling asleep or waking up.

Bloodlines

Narcolepsy in horses is rare and often is bred into the horse by the parents that already have the existing narcoleptic gene in their system. Most horses have a form of sleep deprivation caused from over exercise, low food intake, and even missing fellow companions. This sleep disorder is a form of ED or extreme drowsiness, and can be observed when a horse seems to partially collapse and instead of going all the way to the ground and staying there to recuperate from the episode the horse will immediately regain their footing, and the cycle of partially collapsing and regaining their footing will begin all over again. With this occurring muscles can be pulled and harm can also be done to the ligaments in the fore legs and hind quarters.

These injuries can lead to even worse problems in the long run; they can even make a horse come up lame and no longer able to be ridden. Narcolepsy on horses can be just as hard if not even worse due to the fact that when horses sleep they sleep while standing; if they were to lie down for an extended period of time the weight and pressure being exuded could crush internal organs and break bones.

Horses suffering from narcolepsy, like human beings have lapses in time where they fall asleep and their bodies tense up causing a form of sleep paralysis, so if a horse has a cataplectic attack and suffers from a sleep paralysis, and falls then the damage can be irreparable and sometimes even fatal.

The narcolepsy in horses can even cause harm to the owner or person that is riding the horse because if a sudden attack should happen while riding say down a steep mountain side, the rider would be thrown from the saddle and become injured.  So before riding a horse that has all of the symptoms of narcolepsy have it checked out by a veterinarian, to make sure that the horse is properly diagnosed and all safety measurements are taken before training or riding the horse.

While inspecting the horse make sure that it is receiving enough nighttime sleep and is not disturbed, especially if that particular horse is a mare that is about to foal, or give birth. Rest is needed for such a difficult and delicate situation as giving birth for a mare as well as the young colt that is being born. The narcoleptic trait will not be immediately noticeable in new born colts because they require a lot of rest, so even if a young colt is sleeping during the day that does not mean that they have narcolepsy.

The earliest age to begin looking for the narcolepsy trait in a horse is around a year and a half, by then the horse should be healthy enough to withstand going through the day without needing to stop and take a rest. If the symptoms of narcolepsy are there go to your local veterinarian and ask what narcolepsy in horses is? With the help of a vet then the animal will receive the attention and help that is needed to make sure that the animal remains healthy.

CategoriesADHD

What is Narcolepsy?

by Annie Barraza

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that can begin at any age and continues throughout life. It is a sleep disorder, involving irregular patterns in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, and significant disruptions of the normal sleep/wake cycle.

Onset typically occurs in pre-teens/teens or the early twenties, but can also happen later in life. Narcolepsy is believed to affect approximately 1 in 2,000 people in the United States. It affects both sexes equally and occurs throughout the world, but is underrecognized and underdiagnosed. Once established, narcolepsy is generally stable and can most often be effectively treated. Lifespan is not affected.

Narcolepsy with cataplexy is caused by the destruction of hypocretin-producing cells in the hypothalamus region of the brain. Hypocretin (also known as orexin) is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle as well as other bodily functions (e.g. blood pressure and metabolism). Narcolepsy with cataplexy is an auto-immune disorder. More research is needed to determine the exact triggers behind narcolepsy without cataplexy.

Diagnosis of narcolepsy is usually confirmed in a sleep lab through a series of tests, which typically includes an overnight polysomnogram (PSG or sleep study) to rule out other causes of EDS and detect any unusual REM patterns. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MLST), or daytime nap test, follows, which measures the rapidity of sleep onset and how quickly REM sleep follows. The MLST is the most widely accepted diagnostic test for narcolepsy. A blood test is sometimes used to determine if there is a genetic predisposition towards the disorder. Finally, some research facilities measure the level of hypocretin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is rare and only used in certain situations.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM V) divides narcolepsy into Narcolepsy Type 1, or narcolepsy with cataplexy, and Narcolepsy Type 2, or narcolepsy without cataplexy.

Symptoms include:

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) is described as a persistent sense of mental cloudiness (brain fog), lack of energy, or extreme exhaustion. It includes daytime sleep attacks that may occur with or without warning and may be uncontrollable, and persistent drowsiness, which can continue for prolonged periods of time. Microsleeps, or fleeting, involuntary moments of sleep that may intrude into the waking state, are also experienced as part of EDS for many people. Naps can help people with narcolepsy (PWNs) feel refreshed for a short period of time before EDS symptoms return.

Cataplexy, the second major symptom of narcolepsy, is nearly unique to the disease. It is a sudden loss of muscle tone, usually triggered by emotions such as laughter, surprise, fear, or anger. Cataplexy occurs while the person is awake and causes feelings of weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control. Cataplexy may occur more often during times of stress or fatigue. Attacks can involve only a slight feeling of weakness in one part of the body (i.e. sagging facial muscles, nodding head, buckling knees, garbled speech, etc.) or an immediate and total full body collapse. Although someone suffering a severe cataplexy attack may appear unconscious, they are actually awake and alert. Attacks can last from a few seconds up to several minutes. Cataplexy is related to the loss of muscle tone usually associated with dreaming or REM sleep; as protection against acting out one’s dreams, muscles become immobile or paralyzed. In cataplexy, this protection is triggered inappropriately during wakefulness.

Disrupted or fragmented nighttime sleep is sleep disrupted by periods of wakefulness, vivid dreams, sleep talking, and movement. PWNs typically have no difficulty initially falling asleep.

Hypnagogic (during sleep onset) and hypnopompic (during waking) hallucinations are vivid, realistic, and often frightening dreams that occur on the edge of sleep and wakefulness.

Sleep paralysis is the temporary inability to move, occurring in the transition between sleep and wakefulness.

If you think you have narcolepsy, take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale which can help assess daytime sleepiness.

Add to cart