C R Y D E R P O I N T 10 Ocotber Wake up to why you might With busy schedules, it’s inevitable to feel sleepy once in a while. But habitually falling asleep during the day while watching TV, reading a book, or in the middle of having a conversation could be a sign of a serious sleep disorder known as narcolepsy. An underdiagnosed medical condition Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that involves the brain’s inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. It affects an estimated one in 2,000 people in the United States, with symptoms typically appearing in early adulthood. Yet it is estimated that 50 percent or more patients with narcolepsy have not been diagnosed. According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, awareness of narcolepsy is low. One thousand members of the general public and 400 practicing physicians were surveyed about their knowledge of narcolepsy and its symptoms. Only 7 percent of members of the general public who had heard of the condition reported being “very” or “extremely” knowledgeable about it relative to other chronic diseases. That number only increased to 24 percent among primary care physicians. The majority of people surveyed could not identify all five major symptoms of narcolepsy. In fact, studies have shown it may take 10 years or more for people with narcolepsy to receive a correct diagnosis. “The symptoms of narcolepsy are not wellrecognized, which can lead to misdiagnosis,” says Dr. Aatif M. Husain, professor of neurology at Duke University Medical Center.- “By becoming aware of the symptoms of narcolepsy, individuals can have more informed conversations with their doctors, which may help lead to quicker diagnosis.” The symptoms of narcolepsy: more than daytime sleepiness A recent study, in which researchers evaluated health care data of more than 9,000 narcolepsy patients compared to 46,000 controls, shows that people with narcolepsy are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other conditions including sleep apnea, stroke and heart failure compared to the general population. There are five major symptoms of narcolepsy. Talk to a doctor if one or more sound familiar. The key to managing stress: identify causes and find simple solutions 10 cryder point courier | October 2015 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM • Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) - EDS, the primary symptom of narcolepsy, is characterized by the inability to stay awake and alert during the day resulting in unplanned lapses into sleep or drowsiness; EDS is present in all people with narcolepsy. • Cataplexy (muscle weakness with emotions) - A sudden, brief loss of muscle strength triggered by strong emotions like happiness, laughter, surprise, or anger. • Sleep disruption - Frequent periods of waking up during sleep. • Sleep paralysis - A brief inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up. • Hypnogogic hallucinations - Vivid, dream-like events that occur when falling asleep or waking up. These symptoms vary from person to person and not all five symptoms must be present for a narcolepsy diagnosis. It is also important that family and friends understand these symptoms, as they may observe them and encourage their loved ones to seek medical advice sooner. Seek info from a sleep specialist If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s important to talk to a doctor and visit www. waymorethantired.com to learn more about narcolepsy, find a sleep specialist and watch videos to hear from patients with narcolepsy talk about their condition. Courtesy BPT be tired all the time If there is one aspect of life in the modern world that affects all of us, it’s stress. In fact, it’s so prevalent and can have such a serious effect on our health, that April has been named Stress Awareness Month. Yet despite the potential negative effects of stress, it can also be beneficial. Stress can lead to a wide variety of health conditions including impaired immune function, headaches, sleep problems, cardiovascular diseases, uncharacteristic anger, anxiety and even depression, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stress can also have a negative financial effect. It has been estimated that stress related medical expenses, lost wages and lost productivity among employers costs the U.S. economy upward of $300 billion per year. The key to managing stress is in our ability to identify its causes, according to Anna Zendell, PhD, MSW, and Carol Shenise, MS, RN of Excelsior College’s School of Health Sciences. Events or conditions that cause stress trigger our mind and body into action in an effort to cope with the situation. When this happens, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol which can provide quick energy and sharpened focus. This can be beneficial when experiencing shortterm situations such as running late for an appointment, preparing for a test at school, having to take a traffic detour, or making a presentation to our boss. It’s when a stressful situation overcomes our ability to cope with it, or becomes the norm and continues for long periods of time, that its negative effects can become a real health problem. Managing stress, whether short- or long-term, can depend upon the source of the factors or stressors that caused it in the first place. There could be environmental factors such as the change in seasons and natural or man-made toxins. Social factors such as living or working in crowded conditions and financial downturns are common triggers. Even our personal values and beliefs can come in conflict with everyday events which can cause or aggravate an existing situation. Understanding what causes or increases our stress levels is the first step toward finding a means to lessen its negative effects. The impacts of stress on daily life are often unique to each individual as these tend to manifest in our weaker areas. Our bodies and minds can become fatigued and we feel tired or worn out. Our immune systems can become slow to respond so that we become ill more often or recovery from an existing illness becomes much more difficult to achieve. One or more important areas of our social lives may be affected such as work and personal relationships, and parenting. We just don’t find pleasure and take less time to do the things that will help to relieve stress and promote relaxation. While we cannot always change or eliminate the things that trigger stress in our lives, we can make a conscious effort to change our behaviors in response to these factors. We can say no to new responsibilities, or put limits to what we take on. We can take care of our bodies by healthful eating, drinking plenty of water, and exercising. We can use various stress reduction strategies such as setting aside some quiet time for ourselves, adding humor to our day, visiting with friends, or getting a massage. Stress-causing situations may be common place in our fast-paced society but this doesn’t mean that we have to accept their consequences as a fact of life. This, Zendell and Shenise say, is where exercising our personal power to take control and either change the conditions or our response to situations can make all the difference. Courtesy BPT
CP102015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above