Latest news with #sleepdisorder
Health Line
12-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Recognizing and Managing the Symptoms of Narcolepsy
Key takeaways Narcolepsy causes extreme daytime sleepiness, which can lead to dozing off at inappropriate times and difficulty concentrating. Type 1 narcolepsy involves cataplexy, or sudden muscle weakness, that can be triggered by strong emotions, while both types can cause sleep paralysis and hallucinations as you fall asleep or wake up. Lifestyle changes like short naps, regular sleep schedules, and avoiding caffeine, along with medications such as stimulants and SNRIs, can help manage narcolepsy symptoms. Narcolepsy is a rare neurological condition that causes extreme daytime drowsiness and overwhelming urges to sleep. Narcolepsy symptoms usually begin when people are in their teens. However, most diagnoses occur in people 20–40 years old. There are two types of narcolepsy. Type 1 features a sudden loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy. Type 2 does not have cataplexy as a symptom. What causes narcolepsy is unknown, but people with type 1 usually have lower amounts of hypocretin, a brain protein that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This may be due to a gene mutation. People with a parent or sibling with narcolepsy are up to 40 times more likely to have it. Keep reading to learn more about narcolepsy symptoms and how to manage them. Excessive daytime sleepiness People with type 1 and type 2 narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness. You may doze off at inappropriate times during the day. Because of this, you may lack energy and have difficulty concentrating. Cataplexy People with type 1 narcolepsy experience cataplexy. This sudden muscle weakness usually occurs in your face, neck, and knees. Cataplexy can be mild, where your head drops, or it can be severe, causing you to collapse. It may look like you're having a seizure, but you're not. Strong emotions like fear or anger, or when you're laughing, may trigger cataplexy. The frequency of cataplexy varies by person. You may experience cataplexy several times a day or only once a year. Medications such as sodium oxybate (Xyrem) and venlafaxine (Effexor) can help prevent cataplexy. Sleep paralysis Narcolepsy may cause you to lose muscle function while falling asleep or waking up. Sleep paralysis is the inability to move or talk during these times. Episodes of sleep paralysis may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. People who don't have narcolepsy may also experience sleep paralysis. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 5–40% of people experience it. Hallucinations As you fall asleep or wake up, you may hallucinate, seeing vivid images that aren't real. They may seem so realistic that they may scare you, and you may jump out of bed. Most hallucinations are visual. They may also affect your other senses, such as touch, smell, and sound. These visions that occur when you fall asleep are called hypnagogic hallucinations. About one-third of all people have these hallucinations at some point. If you have narcolepsy, you may experience these hallucinations during the day. Other symptoms Some other symptoms associated with narcolepsy include: Fragmented sleep: You may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night. Automatic behaviors: If you fall asleep while eating, driving, or doing another activity, you may continue to do that activity without consciously knowing it. Immediate rapid eye movement (REM) sleep: People usually begin the REM stage of sleep, during which dreaming occurs, about 60–90 minutes after falling asleep. With narcolepsy, you may enter REM sleep in under 15 minutes after falling asleep and at any time during the day. How can I manage narcolepsy symptoms? Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, you can manage its symptoms with lifestyle strategies and medications. Some lifestyle strategies that may help include the following: Take a few 15- to 20-minute naps during the day if possible. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same times every day. Let your teachers or supervisors know you have narcolepsy and may fall asleep. Get regular physical activity during the week. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. Medications a doctor may prescribe to treat narcolepsy include: stimulants to help reduce excessive daytime sleepiness, such as: armodafinil (Nuvigil) modafinil (Provigil) methylphenidate (Ritalin) serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to hold off REM sleep and prevent symptoms like cataplexy and hallucinations, such as venlafaxine (Effexor) pitolisant (Wakix), which reduces daytime sleepiness by releasing histamines in your brain When to contact a doctor If your daytime sleepiness affects your quality of life, or if you often fall asleep during the day, contact a doctor to determine the cause. They can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatments to help you feel better. Takeaway The symptoms of narcolepsy, especially excessive sleepiness, may make it difficult to do your daily activities. A treatment plan that includes lifestyle strategies and medications can help you manage this condition and improve your quality of life.
Medical News Today
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Cheese may actually give you nightmares: Here is why
Researchers estimate that about 56% of people in the United States and 31% in Western Europe have a sleep disorder. Past studies have shown that about 5% of adults have frequent are a number of known causes for nightmares, including some that are food-related. A new study has found eating too much dairy, especially for those who are lactose intolerant, may be causing nightmares and sleep studies have shown that many people around the world have trouble getting a good night's sleep. Researchers estimate that about 56% of people in the United States and 31% in Western Europe have a sleep disorder. One reason why people may struggle with sleep is due to nightmares. Previous research reports that about 85% of adults have a nightmare at least once a year, with about 5% of adults experiencing frequent are a number of possible causes for nightmares. Some are tied to mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress, and medications and the use of illicit drugs and alcohol can also bring on nightmares. And eating before bedtime may also put a person at a higher risk of this. 'Sleep disturbances affect a huge proportion of the general population; one large survey found that 30-40% of individuals will have a clinically significant sleep disorder in their lifetime,' Tore Nielsen, PhD, professor in the Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Psychiatry and Addiction at the Université de Montréal in Canada, and director of the Dream & Nightmare Lab in the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine at the Montréal North Island Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS NIM), told Medical News Today.'We have effective treatments for some, but by no means all, of these disorders. So, any intervention that can help improve sleep contributes to the overall national battle against poor sleep,' Nielsen is the lead author of a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, which has found that eating too much dairy, especially for those who are lactose intolerant, may be causing nightmares and sleep disturbances. Healthy dietary habits may improve dream qualityFor this study, researchers recruited more than 1,000 students from MacEwan University in Canada, who were asked questions regarding their sleep quality, dreams and nightmares, and their food tolerances and allergies. 'Our previous study found that dairy was the most frequently blamed food by people for affecting their dreams; this suggested lactose intolerance as an obvious explanation,' Nielsen said. 'However, since we had no measures of lactose intolerance or other food sensitivities to test that possibility in that study, we decided to look deeper into the question with standardized measures of food sensitivities.'Upon analysis, when researchers compared reports of food intolerances to reports of poor sleep and nightmares, they discovered that lactose intolerance was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, nightmares, and low sleep quality. 'Lactose intolerance and food allergies were previously unknown to be factors that could incite nightmares,' Nielsen explained. 'But with what we have now learned, we have new avenues of research and clinical intervention to develop.' 'For example, our findings suggest that avoiding allergenic foods or adjusting diets to be healthier could serve as a first line of defense against nightmares — especially in food-sensitive individuals,' he told evidence is far from conclusive but, based on the findings so far, the researcher emphasized that dietary choices could have a significant impact on night-time dreams:'Controlling the severity of lactose intolerance could be used to lessen the severity or prevent nightmares. Other food allergies may also affect dreaming but, since we don't yet know which ones, you should be on guard for possible connections. Reverting to a healthy eating style may be beneficial for your dream life.'Could personalized dietary interventions help improve sleep?MNT had the opportunity to speak with Inderpal Randhawa, MD, a board-certified allergist, immunologist, pediatrician, pulmonologist, and internist and founder of the Food Allergy Institute in Long Beach, CA, about this study. Randhawa, who was not involved in this research, commented that the study was a thoughtful and creative exploration of how food sensitivities — especially lactose intolerance and general food allergies — may influence not just sleep quality but also the content and emotional tone of dreams. 'The rigor in linking gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms to nightmare severity offers novel insight into how physical discomfort from food reactions could manifest psychologically during sleep,' he said.'Sleep quality is closely tied to both mental and physical health,' explained Randhawa. 'For individuals with food intolerances, undiagnosed or unmanaged sensitivities can lead to GI distress that disrupts sleep architecture and promotes negative dream content.''By exploring dietary interventions — especially personalized ones — researchers may offer low-risk, non-pharmacologic strategies to improve sleep, emotional regulation, and even mental health outcomes in populations sensitive to common food allergens,' he suggested. 'Future work should include interventional studies that test specific dietary modifications in people with known food sensitivities to determine causal effects on sleep and dream quality,' Randhawa advised. 'Additionally, applying wearable sleep technology and biomarker data (e.g. cortisol, gut microbiota) could help elucidate the mechanisms linking food-induced GI distress to disrupted REM sleep or nightmare production.'How to get better sleep: 7 dietitian tips for people with food intolerancesMonique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, not involved in this study, offered MNT her top tips on how those who may have food intolerances should eat to help improve their sleep advised to:try to finish dinner and snacking 2 to 3 hours prior to bedtime to allow enough time for the 'rest and digest' phaseavoid spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine too close to bedtimeavoid fast food or foods heavy in saturated fat and added salt (i.e. pizza, burgers and fries, fried chicken)eat a well balanced meal of protein, fat, and carbohydrates until you are satisfied, but not feeling 'stuffed' if you need a snack before bed, opt for something easier to digest but filling like a nut butter and fruit, trail mix, or hummus and crackers or veggieskeep a food log or journal to observe patterns and associations between what you eat, your dreams/ nightmares, and quality of sleepbe sure to adequately hydrate with water or caffeine-free herbal teas like lemon balm, chamomile, or lavender, avoiding carbonation or sugar-sweetened beverages.'I recommend prioritizing meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) if you need specific recommendations due to a food intolerance such as lactose, gluten, food allergy, or other or if what you're eating is affecting your sleep patterns, quality of sleep and duration,' she added, noting that 'digestive enzymes, supplements, or other recommendations may be appropriate to implement.'On a lighthearted note, Richard said that: ''Desserts' spelled backwards is 'stressed' — try not to restrict or deprive yourself of things that bring you joy, but overindulging can wreak havoc as well.'Finally, she advised: 'Work with an RDN and your healthcare team to figure out what may be driving your cravings, patterns or body's messages. Listen to your sweet tooth, but be mindful. Here's wishing you sweet dreams!'
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
ASL pushes for board shakeup at Avadel over handling of sleep drug rollout
June 30 (Reuters) - ASL Strategic Value Fund on Monday urged shareholders of Avadel Pharmaceuticals (AVDL.O), opens new tab to replace its board, citing mismanagement in the rollout of the drugmaker's flagship sleep disorder drug Lumryz since its launch two years ago. The hedge fund said Avadel was unable to convert patients to its drug Lumryz from its rivals, despite the treatment being what it called "best-in-class", leaving hundreds of millions in potential revenue unrealized. Lumryz, which competes with Jazz Pharmaceuticals' (JAZZ.O), opens new tab treatments, is approved in the United States to treat certain symptoms of narcolepsy by using a central nervous system depressant drug called sodium oxybate. ASL said "constant mis-steps" with the launch of Lumryz and miscommunication over the last several years with investors had destroyed significant shareholder value along with the management's credibility. ASL said Avadel should have converted 40% to 50% of sodium oxybate users within two years of launching Lumryz, an opportunity that could have generated an additional $600 million to $800 million in revenue. "The status quo at Avadel is unacceptable," ASL told shareholders in its letter. The election for the directors will be held at the company's annual meeting on July 29. ASL also asked Avadel to hire an investment bank to monetize the value in Lumryz, adding that the drug could bring $500 million to $1 billion in revenue if approved for idiopathic hypersomnia, a condition that causes excessive sleepiness. The fund holds shares worth about $15 million in Avadel according to a Wall Street Journal report on Sunday. Avadel told Reuters on Monday that its board has "consistently engaged with its largest shareholders and proactively sought their perspectives". The company said it remains focused on unlocking the full value of Lumryz in narcolepsy and in future indications. Separately, Avadel said the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit gave a favorable, opens new tab ruling in a suit brought by Jazz regarding the FDA's approval of Lumryz. The ruling affirms FDA's decision to state that Lumryz's once-nightly dosing is clinically superior to other similar treatments.
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘My 14-year-old son has been finding it hard to get to sleep at night'
Question For the last year, my 14-year-old son has been finding it hard to get to sleep at night. He says he can just lie there for hours unable to sleep (before he finally does) and then he is really tired in the morning. It was a big problem in the last term in school as he struggled to go in and then was tired and disengaged when he was there. He assures me that there was nothing worrying him about school – it was just that he could not get off to sleep. Now, in the summer, sleep is less of an issue as he goes to bed later and there is no pressure to get up in morning – thought I don't think the problem has gone away. Also he is due to start in the Gaeltacht next month which has a strict schedule in the morning and I am worried how he will manage. I should also say that he has struggled a bit in school over the years, and he is on a waiting list for an ADHD assessment. I am not sure if his main problem is his lack of a good sleep routine or ADHD or maybe a bit of both. I have also wondered about asking the GP about melatonin. I am aware that he will be starting his Junior Cert year in September and I want to get him in a better routine by then. Answer Lots of children can habitually take a long time to fall asleep when they go to bed even when there is no simple identifiable cause such as anxiety or worry. When sleep/wake-up times are delayed by more than two hours a formal diagnosis of delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is often used. DSPS is a disruption to the circadian rhythm whereby a person's sleep routine gets out of sync with desired patterns – DSPS does not mean the person does not need the sleep, it is just that they can't go to sleep when they want to. READ MORE This is, of course, can be very disruptive around school and work routines and can lead to sleep deprivation and underperformance. DSPS occurs a lot in adolescence, when sleep patterns naturally change such as needing more sleep during periods of developmental spurts or when their time of alertness can occur later in the day, etc. There is also a strong correlation between sleep problems and ADHD and, as you indicate, the interrelationship is complicated. Certainly, sleep problems can aggravate ADHD symptoms of inattention and distractibility and aspects of ADHD such as a racing mind or high physical energy can make sleep more challenging. Resetting the circadian rhythm There are lots of different things that can assist with creating a better sleep routine and it is usually a case of trial and error to find what works for your son. Many people recommend 'light therapy' as a means to reset the circadian rhythm. This means that your son should get up at the same desired each morning and immediately go outdoors to spend time in natural sunlight. In the winter you can use natural light lamps which can be turned on at wake-up time to mimic outdoor light. Additionally, increasing physical exercise can help, though this might need to be done at the right time such as early in the day so it helps build a better sleep routine. Developing relaxing wind-down activities before sleep can also be really helpful, whether this is reading a book, doing a jigsaw, drawing or listening to a podcast. Different activities work for different children – help your son choose something that he enjoys, which is relaxing, rather than stimulating and which is easily accessible before bed. In addition, lying awake for hours can be frustrating and this frustration can make it harder to sleep. As a result it is also important to agree a plan of action with your son as to what he can do on the nights he can't sleep. This might mean getting up for a few minutes and reading or doing a relaxation exercise or simply recalling happy events as he lies awake. Melatonin and sleep Melatonin is the naturally produced hormone that regulates the body's circadian rhythm. When a person's circadian rhythm is in balance, melatonin levels rise in the evening as a person winds down before they go to bed. These levels peak in the middle of the night before falling in the morning at the time of waking. For many people, taking melatonin in the evening can help reset the circadian rhythm and ensuring a better nights sleep. Melatonin is available by prescription via GPs in Ireland who may recommend this when standard sleep techniques have not been successful and when the lack of sleep is disruptive to the teenager. You could contact your GP now for an assessment or you could wait until the new school year when extra support to get into a better sleep routine might be needed. John Sharry is clinical director of the Parents Plus Charity and an adjunct professor at the UCD School of psychology. See
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
ASL Strategic Value Fund targets Avadel board over Lumryz drug mismanagement, WSJ reports
June 29 (Reuters) - ASL Strategic Value Fund plans to push shareholders of drugmaker Avadel Pharmaceuticals (AVDL.O), opens new tab to vote to remove the company's board, citing mismanagement in the launch of its flagship sleep disorder drug, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The fund, which holds shares worth about $15 million in Avadel, plans to publish an open letter arguing that the mismanagement in the launch of the drug called Lumryz resulted in the company missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, the report said, citing a copy of the letter. The investment firm also reiterated a call to the Ireland-based drugmaker to hire an investment bank and explore alternatives including a sale, the report added. Reuters could not independently establish the veracity of the report. Avadel and ASL did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lumryz for children aged 7 years and older who presented with sudden muscle weakness, called cataplexy, or excessive daytime sleepiness, both symptoms of the sleep disorder called narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that impacts the brain's ability to regulate sleep and wake cycles, with 70% of patients also experiencing cataplexy.
