NARCOLEPTIC Meaning and
Definition
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Narcoleptic is an adjective that refers to an individual who suffers from a chronic neurological disorder called narcolepsy. This disorder is characterized by sudden and uncontrollable attacks of deep sleep, often accompanied by a range of additional symptoms.
Narcolepsy can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, resulting in episodes where the affected person can fall asleep at inappropriate times and places, such as during work, conversations, or even while driving. These sleep attacks can be brief, lasting only a few seconds or minutes, or they can last for longer periods.
Apart from excessive sleepiness, narcoleptics may experience other symptoms. These can include cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by emotions such as laughter, surprise, or anger. Sleep paralysis, a temporary inability to move or speak upon awakening, and hallucinations, which can occur both during sleep and upon awakening, are also common symptoms.
Researchers believe that narcolepsy is caused by a deficiency of a neurochemical called hypocretin in the brain, which regulates sleep and wakefulness. It is thought to be a genetic disorder, although its exact cause is still not fully understood.
Narcoleptic individuals usually require treatment, which may involve medications and lifestyle changes to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Through proper diagnosis and management, narcoleptic individuals can lead fulfilling and productive lives, effectively managing their sleep disorder.
Common Misspellings for NARCOLEPTIC
Etymology of NARCOLEPTIC
The word "narcoleptic" is derived from two Greek words: "narke", meaning "numbness" or "stupor", and "leptos", meaning "seized" or "taken". The term "narcolepsy", from which "narcoleptic" is derived, was first coined in the late 19th century by a French physician named Jean-Baptiste-Édouard Gélineau, who used it to describe a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden and uncontrollable sleep attacks, and cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by emotions). The combination of "narke" and "leptos" in the term "narcoleptic" reflects the key symptoms of the condition.
Similar spelling word for NARCOLEPTIC
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