The History of Narcolepsy - Assignment Example

Narcolepsy Erika Espinoza Elizabeth Clark American Public System 03/24 Narcolepsy A history of the topic The history of narcolepsy dates back to the 1880s. Todman (2007) explains that narcolepsy was first recorded in German hospitals where patients recorded irregular sleep cycles as well as weaknesses of the muscles. These patients were also noted to have acquired this sleep disorder from their relatives. However, the author also indicates that in the early 1600s cases of narcolepsy were also reported. The patients with the disorder were said to be in a terrifying dream, they also experienced hallucinations, as well as sleepiness during the day. By 1960, Todman (2007) indicates that cases of narcolepsy were reported in different areas in the world, with the patients displaying similar characteristics. In the 1960s, more research was conducted on the narcolepsy condition. It is during this period that discoveries were made such as the discovery of oroxins that are responsible for canine narcolepsy. It was also noted that humans that suffer from narcolepsy record low levels of hypocretin-3 gene (Todman, 2007). In the present day world, more research has been conducted on narcolepsy and indicates that the condition continues to affect many people with one out of 200 people suffering from narcolepsy. In the entire world, Todman (2007) estimates that the number of people that suffer from narcolepsy stand at three million people. Nevertheless, the author is of the view that the numbers may be higher since a great percentage narcolepsy cases are unreported. It is these alarming statistics that have later led to the invention of different ways of handling and treating the condition. Symptoms and treatments of narcolepsy Narcolepsy is a form of sleepless condition that is characterized by different characteristics. As seen in the research conducted by Ahmed & Thorpy (2010), one of the major primary indicators of narcolepsy is extreme drowsiness in the day. This kind of sleeplessness happens fast, and in weird hours even at times when the individual is completely engaged in accomplishing a particular task. The patients get the urge to sleep, and even become very drowsy after few hours. The patients end up sleeping completely and they may not even remember what they did at the particular time before their sleep. Yet another symptom of narcolepsy includes the loss of muscle ability that may even result to the patients being completely immobile while awake. The patients that display the cataplexy condition may express sudden emotions like anger, they may eat heavy meals and even display high stress levels (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). In the end, the patients display general body weakness. Narcoleptic patients may also have different forms of hallucinations; audial, visual and even tactile hallucinations that affect the wakefulness of the individual especially at the beginning of sleep. At times, the patients cannot breathe properly, they cannot see or even speak or even move from place to place (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). In other situations, the patients of narcolepsy end up doing activities that they did not intend to do. For instance, they may end up doing activities that they did not intend to do like moving in the opposite direction or even doing acuities at the wrong time. Ahmed & Thorpy (2010) also write that narcoleptic patients are extremely forgetful. This explains why they do weird things like placing things in the wrong locations. They may even be extremely slow in completing tasks that they are assigned to do. In the night, narcoleptic patients experience lots of waited hours that result from disrupted sleep. The patients may also fold or contact their legs severally during sleep; and therefore experience interactions during their sleep. It is of great significance to highlight that the narcoleptic patients are extremely unaware that they behave the way they do (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). They may therefore become very loud at different times especially when they feel sleep. From these symptoms, it is evident that they is a great need to treat and handle narcolepsy. In the work of Ahmed & Thorpy (2010), the treatment of narcolepsy can be in different forms. As far as the lifestyle changes is concerned, it is recommended that the narcoleptic patients take regular naps during the day, like two to three times, so as to avoid sudden sleep during the day. It is also recommended that the narcoleptic patients avoid consuming heavy meals and alcohol since these meals and intoxication from alcohol can completely affect the cycle of sleep (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010).. For cases that are extreme, medication come into play. Ahmed & Thorpy (2010) explain that the medications for narcolepsy mostly treat the major symptoms of narcolepsy and even manage the condition in the course of the day. A good example is the stimulant drugs that have been indicated to be very useful in managing the condition during the day. Other forms of drugs that help deal with narcolepsy include the antidepressants that have been indicated to be extremely useful in managing any form of cataleptic symptoms (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). Among the drugs include sodium oxybate, armodafinil, and modafinil amongst others. Despite these medicate having major side effects such as nausea, dry mouth and diarrhea, the medications have been reported to reduce anxiety among the patients of narcolepsy, and even reduces chances of abuse of the drugs. Yet another form of treatment of narcolepsy involves taking to other individuals around the patients (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). Since narcolepsy is linked to loss of the control of muscles in a sudden way, having strong ties and links with other people can help deal with the condition by helping the patient when they are in need, for instance if they fall or even sleep in unexpected hours of the day. Other researchers also indicate that narcolepsy can be treated and managed through regular exercising before going to bed so as the muscles can get a chance to rest when the patient is asleep (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). The patients are also asked to avoid bright light before they go to sleep and even avoid taking beverages that contain caffeine before they sleep since these are activities can make an individual awake throughout the night. After the patent wakes up, it is recommended that they fall back asleep for a short time or do any other activity that can relax their muscles. These activities make the patient relaxed and alert throughout the day (Ahmed & Thorpy, 2010). Evaluation and summation of current research articles Cao, M. (2010). Advances in Narcolepsy. Med Clin N Am, 94 (3), 541-555. The work of Cao (2010) on Advances in Narcolepsy explains that narcolepsy is not only a rare condition, but also one that has lifelong effects on the patient. In the work, the author also explains that narcolepsy is extremely challenging to the patients in terms of treatment and managing the condition. The work also highlights the pathophysiology of narcolepsy and indicates that this condition is seemingly an autoimmune one that causes post natal death of the hypocretin neurons. This explains that the hypocretin neurons have a major impact on multiple organs that are responsible for the sleep cycles. It is this deprivation that causes the patients to become narcoleptic (Cao, 2010). However, the author indicates that with the invention of cerebrospinal fluid of hypocretin-I, it has become easy to effectively diagnose narcolepsy with cataplexy. Other forms of treatment such as sodium oxybate and modafinil have provide effective treatment and cure for daytime sleepiness both in children as well as the adults (Cao, 2010). The author also explains that in the event that more research and investigations are done, it is possible to treat narcolepsy. In the future, it is expected that it will be extremely easy to deal with the condition and even come up with strategies that will help deal with the condition. In this case, it is expected that the future advances in narcolepsy will help deal with the condition as well as outline the best treatment modalities that will help handle all forms of manifestations of narcolepsy (Cao, 2010). Cochen De Cock V. & Dauvilliers Y. (2011). Current and future therapeutic approaches in narcolepsy. Future Neurol., 6(6), 771–782. Cochen De Cock & Dauvilliers (2011) write that narcolepsy with cataplexy is a sleep disorder that disables the individuals. Individuals display raid movement of the eye, irregular sleep cycles and frequent movement of the patient while asleep especially at night. The article also describes the major symptoms of narcolepsy ranging from irregular sleep cycles, hallucinations by the patient, paralysis that occurs due to the muscle reflexes and excessive sleepiness when is required to be awake, for instance during daytime (Cochen De Cock & Dauvilliers, 2011). At times the patients have been said to display unexpected emotions such anger and extreme happiness. These patients may also display high stress levels. The patients may also display weakness and have a dull face. The work also highlights the current treatment of narcolepsy and the future advancements of the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy (Cochen De Cock & Dauvilliers, 2011). The work also highlights that pathophysiology indicates that the loss of neurons in the hypothalamus that produces orexin/hypocretin affects the wakefulness transmitter (Cochen De Cock & Dauvilliers, 2011). In addition, the authors explain how the treatment process of narcolepsy has slowly evolved (Cochen De Cock & Dauvilliers, 2011). To date, almost all the symptoms for narcolepsy have a form of treatment. Today it is very possible to treat the condition at its early stages. This helps deal with the condition in its future stages through the use of wake-promoting medications, sleep-enhancement drugs, hypocretin replacement drugs and other medications that regulate the waves of sleep in the patients (Cochen De Cock & Dauvilliers, 2011). With this in perspectove, it is anticipated that in the future narcolepsy will have a lasting curative effect on the patients. Nishino, S. & Okuro, M. (2010). Emerging treatments for narcolepsy and its related disorders. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs, 15(1), 139-58. In the work of Nishino & Okuro (2010), the authors write that narcolepsy is a prolonged sleep condition that is mostly characterized by excessive sleep during the day, cataplexy, sleep disruptions and hallucinations. This condition has both pharmacological and non- pharmacological treatment. The authors attest to the fact that the condition is extremely tiresome and can completely disable the normal functioning of the individual (Nishino & Okuro, 2010). One the individuals are diagnosed with narcolepsy, they are automatically subjected to different forms of treatment and medications that are used to control their conditions. In the work, the clinical symptoms of narcolepsy are outlined and the emerging treatments of the condition. Examples of stimulants that have been useful in the treatment of narcolepsy have also been outlined in the work of Nishino & Okuro, (2010). These examples of the stimulants include amphetamine that has been outlined and its importance in clinical management of the condition. The treatment that involves the replacement of hypocretin is also outlined in the work of Nishino & Okuro (2010). The authors also attest to the fact that new forms of treatment are been discovered with the times; thus making it easy to handle narcolepsy. The new treatment has been tested both on animals and humans. The authors conclude by indicating that in the near future, it is expected that new treatment approaches will be made, and it is expected that narcolepsy and other related infections will be prevented and cured (Nishino & Okuro, 2010). It will also be possible to disable any situations that may lead to the occurrence of the condition. A brief synthesis and conclusion From the work, it is evident that narcolepsy is a condition that leads to the patients experiencing excessive sleepiness. Some of the patients experience weakness of the muscle, they may have strong emotions such as anger and they may even become forgetful and do activities that they had not intended. At times the patients may hallucinate and even hold conversations that are not complete. Their movement may look clumsy and uncoordinated. The number of the narcolepsy patients is increasing by the day. The causes are not mental or psychological, but they may be genetical. However, despite the symptoms being adverse, it is possible to treat and manage the condition through medical treatments and through lifestyle adjustments. For example, the narcoleptic patients are expected to avoid heavy meal in the night. The patients can also deal with their condition by taking regular naps in the day so as they can avoid sudden sleep at unexpected times. Plenty of rest has also been termed as one of the major treatments of the condition. It is also expected that the narcoleptic patients exercise regularly so as they can have time to rest well while asleep. Medically medicines such as oxybate, antidepressants such as Effexor have been useful in the regulation of the sleep patterns. Despite these medicines having severe side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and anxiety, they have proven to be extremely useful in handling the condition. Lastly, form the work, it is evident that in the near future, there is a great likelihood that narcolepsy will have a lasting cure. References Ahmed, I. & Thorpy, M. (2010). Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment of Narcolepsy. Clin Chest Med., 31(2), 371-381. Cao, M. (2010). Advances in Narcolepsy. Med Clin N Am., 94 (3), 541-555. Cochen De Cock V. & Dauvilliers Y. (2011). Current and future therapeutic approaches in narcolepsy. Future Neurol., 6(6), 771–782. Nishino, S. & Okuro, M. (2010). Emerging treatments for narcolepsy and its related disorders. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs, 15(1), 139-58. Todman, D. (2007). Narcolepsy: A Historical Review. The Internet Journal of Neurology, 9(2). Read More