What is periodic sleepiness and how to prevent it

I believe everyone has heard the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, but what you may not know is that in daily life, there really are "Sleeping Beauties". They are not cursed, but suffer from a disease called periodic sleepiness. Patients with periodic hypersomnia have unexplained sleepiness for days at a time and cannot be awakened.

1. What is periodic sleepiness?

Periodic hypersomnia and bulimia syndrome, also known as Kleine-Levin syndrome, is commonly known as "Sleeping Beauty Syndrome". It is a very rare disease, which is generally considered to be an abnormal syndrome caused by lesions in the prefrontal area or hypothalamus. It is common in young males and is characterized by periodic hunger attacks and drowsiness. Patients have uncontrollable paroxysmal sleep, each sleep lasting from several hours to several days. After waking up, they overeat, and the amount of food they eat exceeds the normal amount by several to ten times. They are easily hungry and most of the patients are obese.

2. Symptoms of periodic sleepiness

1. Excessive daytime sleepiness – This symptom is always present and is usually the most noticeable.

2. Cataplexy - Cataplexy is a sudden or temporary loss of muscle mass, which causes paralysis of the head or body without loss of consciousness.

3. Sleep paralysis - Sleep paralysis means that a person is temporarily unable to move when falling asleep or waking up.

4. Hypnotic hallucinations - These are mental, dream-like images that are usually terrifying and often occur when falling asleep or before sleep paralysis occurs.

Treatment of periodic sleepiness

1. Drug treatment

1. Antipsychotic drugs: lithium carbonate, carbamazepine, etc., but their efficacy is limited.

2. Central nervous system stimulants: Ritalin, amphetamine, and modafinil can all treat drowsiness, but cannot improve cognitive and other psychological symptoms.

3. Estrogen antagonists: mainly used for female cases related to the menstrual cycle.

(ii) Nursing

1. Basic nursing care: Prevent accidents and make adjustments to the patient's drowsiness and hyperphagia.

2. Psychological care: Do a good job in psychological work to make patients aware of the manifestations, prognosis and differences of this disease from mental illness, which will play a positive role in relieving the mental stress of patients and their families and promoting patient recovery.