cataplexy

Apr
22
2009

Treating sleep disorders in traumatic brain injury victims may show no improvement

A recently published study that is the first to assess the effectiveness of treating sleep disorders in adults with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) shows treatment may result in the objective resolution of the sleep disorder without improvements in daytime sleepiness or neuropsychological function.

Results show that in brain-injured subjects with obstructive sleep apnea, three months of treatment with CPAP therapy dramatically reduced the severity of OSA from 31.4 to 3.8 apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep; however, there was no demonstrable improvement in measures of daytime sleepiness.


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May
5
2008

Skin, core body temperatures affects narcoleptics’ vigilance, sleepiness

In healthy people, both sleepiness and vigilance show a relationship with core body temperature and skin temperature. When core body temperature is high during the daytime, skin temperature is low, which translates into optimal vigilance.

Researchers noted during a recent study, though, that when core body temperature is low at night time, skin temperature is high, which correlates to optimal sleep. Among those suffering from narcolepsy, however, direct manipulations of their skin and core body temperatures affect their vigilance and sleepiness.


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Mar
3
2008

Many narcoleptics with cataplexy have eating disorders

The majority of patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy experience a number of symptoms of eating disorders, with an irresistible craving for food and binge eating as the most prominent features, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the journal Sleep.

Study authors Hal Droogleever Fortuyn, M.D., and Sebastiaan Overeem, M.D., of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center in The Netherlands, focused on 60 patients who had been diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy (N/C) who were recruited from specialized sleep centers and 120 healthy controls.


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Interesting Apnea Statistics
~~ Apnea in United States ~~

As of May 2, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (-0500) (ET), the U.S. population
was 306,340,710. Sleep researchers estimate approximately seven percent
of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. Using that
estimate, there are potentially 21,443,850 apneics in the U.S.

~~ Apnea around the world ~~

As of May 2, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (-0500) (ET), the world population
was 6,777,286,604. Sleep researchers estimate approximately seven percent
of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. Using that
estimate, there are potentially 474,410,062 apneics in the world.