Narcolepsy Treatment

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Narcolepsy is also known as lethargy or excessive sleep. People with narcolepsy can sleep 12 to 18 hours a day. Narcolepsy is a very complex sleep disorder that is the opposite of insomnia. People with this disease, if left untreated, will affect their daily activities and quality of life.

1. What is narcolepsy?

1.1. Definition Narcolepsy, also known as daytime sleepiness, is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep.
1.2. Symptoms If a person has narcolepsy, they always feel drowsy even when they have had a good night's sleep, have difficulty staying awake during classes or at work, hallucinations may come before sleep, hallucinations in sleep, frequent sleep paralysis.
So they may suffer from lack of energy, a depressed mood, difficulty concentrating or exhaustion. People with narcolepsy often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances. Narcolepsy can cause serious disruptions in daily routines.
Contrary to what some people believe, narcolepsy is not related to depression, seizure disorders, syncope, sleep deprivation or of other simple conditions that can cause sleep disturbances.
Narcolepsy is uncommon, it is estimated to affect only about 1 in 2,000 people. Symptoms of narcolepsy usually begin between the ages of 10-25.
1.3. Diagnosis Narcolepsy is diagnosed through history taking and physical examination. Tests to rule out other causes of symptoms may be done including brain imaging studies and an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record brain wave activity.

2. Narcolepsy and its cure

Narcolepsy is a chronic disease that is difficult to treat. This disease is related to genetics, in addition to psychological factors also aggravate the condition. After a period of treatment, the patient is stable, but if he has to go through a shock, physical or psychological stress such as the loss of a loved one, stress at work, the disease will recur or those with other factors an underlying disease will develop. There are young women who do not have this disease, but when there is a mental "shock", the disease begins to appear.
To treat narcolepsy can use medication and behavioral therapy. In addition, patients should be educated about the benign nature of these symptoms and to avoid potentially hazardous activities (such as driving or operating heavy machinery while drowsy). Also, create breaks during the day that can alleviate episodes of sleepiness.
When diagnosed with narcolepsy, the patient will be treated for daytime sleepiness with stimulants such as methylphenidate, pemoline, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil.
Besides, the patient should cooperate with exercises and have an exercise schedule to sleep better. People with narcolepsy also have regular naps of about 30 minutes. Because of the short naps, the patient will have 3-4 hours of alertness when taking the medicine with it.
Moreover, for obese people, scientists have now found a new drug called modafinil provigil that works to treat narcolepsy and other sleep disorders but has the ability to help those who are overweight or obese. Obese people reduce impulsive behavior due to food addiction. Modafinil works to increase alertness by altering levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which control sleep and wakefulness, much like serotonin. This is considered an important factor that can benefit people who are obese due to appetite.
With proper treatment, the disease will stabilize and gradually reduce the duration of narcolepsy, although there is no case of narcolepsy completely, but narcolepsy is stable at the level of stopping the drug and controlling the narcolepsy droopy.
Up to 70-80% of treated patients control narcolepsy. After 2-3 years of treatment, patients do not need to take medicine. After an episode of stress, the patient may also experience a relapse. The doctor will then create a new treatment plan.
Narcolepsy is related to genetics and stress, so the way to prevent it is to have a comfortable mental life. As for genetics, further research is needed for promising stem cell-level interventions in the future.

3. Address for treatment of narcolepsy

When patients have sleep problems, especially narcolepsy, they can go to the Psychological Clinic - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital. This is the leading prestigious facility in the country in the treatment of diseases related to psychology and mental health.
With modern medical equipment and a team of leading experts capable of implementing psychological tests, intensive psychotherapy for medical examination and treatment.
With enthusiasm and love for the profession, the medical team and doctors working at the clinic will bring customers the best services.
MSc. Doctor Nguyen Van Phi MSc. Doctor Pham Thanh Luan MSc. Doctor Nguyen Trong Hien Master, Doctor Nguyen Minh Quyet Master, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Long Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Hoa Psychology Clinic is currently cooperating with leading professors and experts of the University Hanoi Medical Center, leading hospitals in the country and internationally to diagnose and treat in order to bring the best medical examination and treatment to patients.
Customers can go directly to Vinmec Times City to visit or contact hotline 0243 9743 556 for support.