September 22nd is World Narcolepsy Day. Many people envy 'second sleep', but there is a group of people who are prone to drowsiness, remain awake one second before falling asleep the next, suddenly fall asleep while driving, or suddenly fall down while walking, which poses safety hazards to themselves and others. Why is this situation happening? In this issue of "One Minute Health Course", Zhao Zhihong, director of the Department of Neurology at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, stated that these people may have developed narcolepsy. Episodic sleep disorder is a serious chronic sleep awakening unstable neurological disorder caused by the loss of neurons in the hypothalamus that produce hypothalamic secretions, "Zhao Zhihong said. What are the manifestations of narcolepsy in daily life? Zhao Zhihong provides an example that the main characteristics of this disease are uncontrollable drowsiness during the day and sudden falling asleep. Patients are prone to excessive drowsiness during the day, may experience sudden falls, sleep paralysis at night, hallucinations before falling asleep or awakening, and restless sleep at night. Zhao Zhihong stated that paroxysmal sleeping sickness can start in early childhood and adolescence, and its course runs through critical periods of education and personality development. It may lead to patients losing memory, lack of concentration, decreased learning ability, delayed movement, and even mental and emotional disorders, seriously affecting patients' learning, life, and social functions, and bringing a heavy burden to individuals and families. Based on years of outpatient experience, Zhao Zhihong stated that the peak of onset of narcolepsy is generally between the ages of 8 and 12. Due to a lack of understanding and misunderstanding, the average time from onset of narcolepsy symptoms to diagnosis is 8 to 15 years. Most patients are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed as epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, etc. So, what situations suggest that it may be narcolepsy? Zhao Zhihong stated that one of the main clinical manifestations is the uncontrollable drowsiness or repeated episodes of sleep during the day. Some patients may suddenly experience sleep attacks while walking, eating, or speaking, or exhibit some unconscious behaviors or movements; The second is sudden onset, manifested as sudden and unconscious systemic weakness and falls, as well as drooping eyelids, sagging head and shoulders, inability to speak, and obvious emotional stimulation or laughter; The third is pre sleep hallucinations, dreamlike experiences, and a sense of 'soul out of the body'; Fourthly, there is a feeling of sleep paralysis and "ghost pressure on the bed", where conscious individuals are unable to move or speak autonomously during sleep; The fifth is restless sleep at night, repeated awakening, and some patients may experience involuntary lower limb movements. If these situations occur, it is necessary to be vigilant and go to the hospital for examination if necessary. Professional doctors should be invited for diagnosis and management, "Zhao Zhihong said. For diagnosed patients with narcolepsy, Zhao Zhihong suggests that a planned nap, especially a nap, can be arranged during the day, and regular and sufficient sleep should be maintained at night. For children and adolescent patients, parents and teachers should express understanding and encourage them to adopt a positive and healthy attitude towards life, and should not increase their academic burden. For adult patients, driving, high-altitude and underwater work should be avoided. If psychological symptoms such as depression and inferiority appear, timely and effective psychological intervention should be given. (New News Agency)