Narcolepsy


A neurological disorder that is marked by the recurrent, sudden, uncontrollable compulsion to sleep. Narcolepsy is often associated with cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone and paralysis of voluntary muscles associated with a strong emotion), sleep paralysis (immobility of the body that occurs in the transition from sleep to wakefulness), hypnagogic hallucinations (presleep dreams), and automatic behaviors (such as doing something ‘automatically’ and not remembering afterward how one did it). The causes of narcolepsy are unknown. Narcolepsy is not a fatal disorder in itself, but it can lead to fatalities. For example, affected persons may fall asleep while driving. Also known as excessive daytime sleepiness, hypnolepsy, sleeping disease, paroxysmal sleep, and Gelineau syndrome.

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    1. A drug that causes insensibility or stupor. A narcotic induces narcosis, from the Greek “narke” for “numbness or torpor.” 2. A drug such as marijuana which is subject to regulatory restrictions comparable to those for addictive narcotics.

  • Narcotic antagonist treatment

    Methadone treatment program; Naltrexone treatment program.

  • Naris

    One of the two nares, the front openings to the nasal cavities that allow air to flow in and out or, more simply, a nostril. Naris is the Latin singular of nares and is less used in medicine than nares.

  • NARP

    a disease with epilepsy, myoclonus (shock-like contraction of muscle), cerebellar dysfunction of the cerebellar portion of the brain, hearing loss and dementia; Leber’s hereditary optic atrophy — the onset in midlife (average age 30) of painless central visual loss that progresses over a period averaging 4 months, affecting both eyes affected; and Leigh’s syndrome — […]

  • Nasal

    Having to do with the nose.


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