Health Care

Exactly what causes narcolepsy is unknown, but researchers have identified several potential triggers of narcolepsy symptoms. Genetics, autoimmune disorders and environmental factors are all possible causes. Narcolepsy Symptoms and Normal Sleep An abnormal sleep cycle causes narcolepsy symptoms. Most people enter a period of light non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep when they fall asleep. Light NREM sleep gradually transitions into deeper, restful sleep. After deep NREM sleep, the sleep cycle alters again, switching to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when most dreaming occurs. During REM sleep the body is temporarily paralyzed to prevent the dreamer from physically acting out dreams. A person with narcolepsy symptoms has a very different sleep cycle. Upon falling asleep, someone with narcolepsy enters REM sleep within minutes. Narcolepsy symptoms during waking hours have elements of REM sleep stages, such as cataplexy (loss of muscle tone), or vivid dreams or hallucinations.

Narcolepsy symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations and cataplexy. All cases of narcolepsy present with daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms vary depending on the individual, with few people displaying all four major narcolepsy symptoms. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Daytime sleepiness describes both all-day drowsiness and sudden "sleep attacks." A person with narcolepsy may experience several sleep attacks a day, falling asleep at unexpected or inappropriate times. In most cases sleep attacks occur when the individual engages in passive activities such as sitting, reading or watching television. Less commonly, sleep attacks also occur when working, eating, driving or having sex. A sleep attack typically lasts from 15 to 60 minutes. How often daytime sleepiness causes sleep attacks depends on the individual. Daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy does not always result in sleep attacks. While some people experience several sleep a

Few sleep disorders are as misunderstood as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that causes abnormal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep activity. People with narcolepsy are prone to excessive daytime sleepiness, sometimes falling asleep while talking, watching television or performing other tasks. Narcolepsy affects 1 out of every 2,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2010). Men and women are affected equally, and narcolepsy can be found among people of all ethnic backgrounds. What Causes Narcolepsy? Exactly what causes narcolepsy remains unclear. One popular theory is that disorders in REM sleep trigger narcolepsy. Most people have sleep cycles that begin with non-REM sleep and change to REM sleep after 80 to 100 minutes, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2010). REM sleep is the stage of sleep where people dream. People with narcolepsy often enter REM sleep shortly afte

Night terrors in toddlers are terrifying for children and parents alike. A night terror is a parasomnia, a type of sleep disorder characterized by unwanted activity during sleep. Night terrors — also referred to as "sleep terrors" — affect up to 6 percent of children, according to the Nemours Foundation (2007). Although rare, adults may also experience night terrors. Nightmares in Children or Night Terrors? Night terrors are not, as many people suppose, especially vivid nightmares. Nightmares in children are vivid, frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep. Upon awakening from a nightmare, the child will be confused and frightened, but responds to soothing and comforting. The child will probably remember the scary dream in detail. Unlike nightmares in children, night terrors occur during the deepest stages of sleep, when dreaming does not occur. The child rarely remembers a night terror. Night terrors in children can produce dramatic physical responses, such ki

Bedwetting is a fairly common occurrence in children, and bedwetting in children younger than seven is rarely cause for concern. At this age, the child may not have sufficient bladder control to prevent bedwetting (also called "nocturnal enuresis"), even if he is toilet trained. According to the Mayo Clinic (2009), only 15 percent of children still experience bedwetting problems by age 5. Bedwetting in older children is even less common, with only 5 percent of children bedwetting between the ages of 8 and 11. Bedwetting boys are more common than girls. Both bedwetting boys and girls may have parents who also wet the bed — up to 80 percent of children who wet the bed have parents who also experienced bedwetting as children, according to The Mayo Clinic (2009). Bedwetting Causes Bedwetting is classified as primary or secondary nocturnal enuresis. Primary enuresis describes continual problems with bedwetting. Secondary bedwetting refers to bedwetting that develops afte

Nightmares in children and adults are not uncommon, but a small segment of the population suffers from nightmares on a regular basis. The vivid nature of nightmares can cause them to remain in memory long after waking. Causes of Nightmares Nightmares can occur due to a variety of physical, mental and emotional causes. Common triggers of nightmares include: Alcohol consumption Anxiety Fever Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) Pregnancy Prescription or illicit drugs Psychiatric illness Stress Withdrawals from addictive drugs. In adults, nightmares seem to be more common in individuals who are artistic, creative or particularly sensitive to stress. Night Terrors and Nightmares in Children Nightmares in children are common. Children may wake up frightened or distressed after nightmares, and may need comforting before they can sleep again. Night terrors are different from nightmares in children. Unlike nightmares, which happen during REM sleep, night terrors occur

What is insomnia? Popular culture defines insomnia as an inability to sleep. Insomnia symptoms are, in reality, more complicated that a mere lack of sleep. For example, a person who sleeps through the night but wakes up tired may be suffering from insomnia. In many cases, insomnia is a symptom of an underlying medical condition rather than a separate disorder. Treating the underlying cause will, in most cases, reduce symptoms of insomnia. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea often cause insomnia symptoms, as do medication side effects, physical pain and even aging. Symptoms of Insomnia An occasional period of sleep disruption doesn't necessarily indicate chronic insomnia. Most people experience difficulty falling asleep at some point in their lives. Difficulty falling asleep at night is one of the most common symptoms of insomnia. An inability to get enough sleep also indicates the possibility of insomnia. A person with insomnia often wakes up feeling tired after sleep.