Dungsa!

"Dungsa" is the Ilocano term for drowsiness. It is the mental state before sleep sets in. We all normally experience this.

My sister sent me a text message earlier inquiring about excessive "dungsa". Her friend apparently is suffering from too much drowsiness that she was even robbed without her knowing it. My sister did not give me the other symptoms that her friend is experiencing, so I will just zero in on the 'excessive' sleepiness.

The condition is termed Narcolepsy. Here's what the prestigious Mayo Clinic say about this condition.

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep.

People with narcolepsy often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances. Narcolepsy can cause serious disruptions in personal and professional lives.

Some people mistake narcolepsy for depression, seizure disorder, fainting, simple lack of sleep, or other conditions that may cause abnormal sleep patterns.

Narcolepsy is a chronic condition that doesn't go away completely. Although there's no cure for narcolepsy, medications and lifestyle changes can help you manage the symptoms. And talking to others — family, friends, employer, teachers — can help you cope better with narcolepsy.

The primary characteristic of narcolepsy is overwhelming drowsiness and an uncontrollable need to sleep during the day. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere and at any time. For example, you may suddenly nod off while at work or talking with friends. You may sleep for just a few minutes or up to a half-hour before awakening and feeling refreshed, but then you fall asleep again.

In addition to sleeping at inappropriate times and places, you also may experience decreased alertness throughout the day. Excessive daytime sleepiness usually is the first symptom to appear and is often the most troublesome, making it difficult for you to concentrate and function fully.

Other signs and symptoms of narcolepsy include restless nighttime sleep and occasional automatic behavior. During episodes of automatic behavior, you continue to function during sleep episodes — even talking and putting things away, for example — but you awaken with no memory of performing such activities, and you generally don't perform these tasks well. As many as 40 percent of people with narcolepsy experience automatic behavior during sleep attacks. People with narcolepsy may also act out their dreams at night by flailing their arms or kicking and screaming.

Usually, the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy first develop between the ages of 10 and 25, but the condition can start before the age of 10 or in your 20s and 30s. It's rare for narcolepsy to begin after age 40. Narcolepsy is chronic, which means signs and symptoms may vary in severity, but they never go away entirely.

Research continues to determine the cause of narcolepsy. Genetics and some sort of trigger may affect brain chemicals and contribute to the disorder. Only about 2 percent of people with narcolepsy have a close relative with the disease, which suggests that factors other than genetics are the cause of most narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy affects males and females equally and occurs in all racial and ethnic groups. However, rates do seem to vary by country.The condition may run in families. A small percentage of people with narcolepsy have a close relative with the disease.

Narcolepsy may cause you to experience serious problems in both the professional and personal parts of your life. Others may perceive your undiagnosed condition as lazy, lethargic or rude. Your performance may suffer at school or work.

Narcolepsy can affect intimate relationships. Extreme sleepiness may cause low sex drive or impotence, and people with narcolepsy may even fall asleep while making love. The problems caused by sexual dysfunction may be further complicated by emotional difficulties. Intense feelings, such as anger or joy, can trigger some signs of narcolepsy, causing affected people to withdraw from emotional interactions.

Sleep attacks may result in physical harm to people with narcolepsy. You're at increased risk of a car accident if you have an attack while driving. Your risk of cuts and burns is higher if you fall asleep while preparing food.

Narcolepsy has no cure, but medications and lifestyle modifications can help you manage the symptoms. Medications include stimulants and antidepressants.

Lifestyle modifications are important in managing the symptoms of narcolepsy. You may benefit from these steps:

• Stick to a schedule. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends.
• Take naps. Schedule short naps at regular intervals during the day. Short naps at strategic times during the day may be refreshing and may help you stay awake for a few hours.
• Avoid nicotine and alcohol. Using these substances can worsen your signs and symptoms.
• Get regular exercise. Moderate, regular exercise may help you feel more awake during the day and sleep better at night.

http://www.mayoclinic.com