Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Can Be Fatal
By Daddy Neil
@neildc (17238)
Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
August 24, 2010 10:42am CST
One of the symptoms common to people with Sleep Apnea is the excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Common but something that should be given proper attention.
Narcolepsy, as Wikipedia describes, is a chronic sleep disorder. A person could experience extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate time, such as while at work or at school.
Narcoleptics usually experience disturbed nocturnal sleep and an abnormal daytime sleep pattern, which is often confused with insomnia.
I have learned from one of our friends, that one person died just because she was a narcoleptic. She fell asleep at the wheel of her car.
reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy
1 person likes this
12 responses
@doormouse (4599)
•
25 Aug 10
i may have slight sleep apnea,i have a couple of medical conditions that make me very tired 24/7,my doctor recently asked me if i snored as i'd been feeling more tired than usual,i said that i wasn't sure,but my boyfriend said that i do snore and then after a light snore i stop breathing for a few seconds then snore very loudly,i have suffered from mild bouts of sleep apnea before and i'm wondering if it's come back
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
26 Aug 10
you could have been overweight at that time when you had the apnea. i thought about this when i saw one of your photos, "me when i was fat". i have read that overweight people could have sleep apnea, they usually snore. if the doctors could not find any obstruction in your throat, that could be the possibility that your apnea will come back, so maintain your diet and your weight.
1 person likes this
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
hi quita. thank you for responding to my other discussion. that actually prompted me to make this one. it's not you but i also want everyone to learn so i really took no time to post this one. i searched first for the said term before making this one. thanks again.
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
25 Aug 10
Oh my god. I have abnormal sleep pattern. But I do sleep without any problem. Otherwise my father would have really worried. Yes, at times I doze when I work.
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
you know, most people with these kinds of sleep disorders like apnea and narcolepsy do not know that they have such problems. so, it is important that people around us knows about the condition and knowledgeable of what to do when they apnea and sleepiness attack.
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
hi sweetie. yes you said it right, it's getting harder each day. but we all are not losing hope. troubles will be finally over very very soon. 
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
of course sleeping is resting and resting is good for us, but have you read the entire discussion? excessive daytime sleepiness is what we are talking about here, not excessive sleeping.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
24 Aug 10
It is true that narcolepsy is not healthy, and it makes a person very tired. So very tired that they fall asleep in dangerous situations. It really is not narcolepsy that is fatal though, but the consequences of falling asleep while driving or other places that can be dangerous.
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
yes you are right Gerty, not the condition itself but the consequences of falling asleep while in a situation that needs complete alertness, like driving. now it could be sad to think that some people will also think that sleep apnea couldn't be fatal. when one stops breathing and no one could even give him a tap or shake so he can be awake. what if he never wakes up again?
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Aug 10
wow ive heard of this condition but wonder what causes any of these 2 conditions, like apnea and narcolepsy. i dont know why someone would be idiot enough to drive with that condition
i stopped driving 6 yrs ago because i was getting dizzy from my condition, not only for my own safety but i didnt want to hurt or kill someone else
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
i read more on wiki, so i learned that narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder. it is not caused by mental illness or psychological problems. while sleep apnea could be caused by large tonsils and adenoids, it could also cause one to be narcoleptic later on.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
25 Aug 10
I guess what is important is to be able to differentiate sleep deprivation to Narcolepsy. I sometimes feel very sleepy during the day but I know that it is due to the fact that I go to bed way too late and get up before dawn seven days a week. I knew a fellow years ago who had a condition similar to Narcolepsy and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He had to stop work at regular intervals and go and lie down. Thanks for enlightening us to this condition neildc.
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
maybe his boss understood his condition so he was allowed to go and lie down even during work. also one important to people with such sleep disorders, is at least people around them is aware of the condition so they will also know what to do when apnea or the sleepiness or the sudden falling asleep attack.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
24 Aug 10
I have heard of this condition before but I have never known anyone to have it. You often see people making fun of it on movies and in the childrens TV program, The Wiggles!
It is a serious problem though, like you you say. People with this condition should not be allowed to drive or operate machinery at all in my opinion. My wife suffers from insomnia which can lead her to feeling drowsy and flat during the day at times and so does her father, but they never actually fall asleep during the day unless they plan to. 
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
i also agree with you that people with this condition should not be allowed to drive or operate any machine.
my son, though his condition is sleep apnea, and even if he will be diagnosed to be narcoleptic, it is still safe for him since he is still a child. he can sleep anytime he wants. but even though, we never saw him just fall asleep suddenly.
i really feel so sad whenever is see people making fun of people falling asleep while eating or someone snoring. they do not know how it is difficult for them to stop breathing while asleep.
@LaadieGerald (138)
• Philippines
27 Aug 10
congratulations. let us know what tv station it is that you are going to be interviewed. i am sure it's going to be fun.
@deve_annrn (1856)
• Philippines
24 Aug 10
How can this condition be diagnosed My boyfriend loves to sleep all day and would even eat lunch late in the afternoon because of excessive sleeping.., I don't know if he just sleeps out of nothing else to do since we are constantly at home.., or could he be having narcolepsy already?
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
25 Aug 10
as wiki have stated, it is relatively easy to diagnose when all the symptoms of narcolepsy are present. two tests are commonly used to diagnose narcolepsy, polysomnogram and mslt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy#Diagnosis
