Sudden loss of postural tone without loss of consciousness, typically triggered by some emotional stimulus such as laughter, anger, or excitement. It is a characteristic of narcolepsy.
A condition in which a person’s muscles become suddenly rigid and he or she falls without losing consciousness, possibly caused by a shock.
Sudden brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion; may result in collapse, though the victim remains fully conscious. Spells last from a few seconds to several minutes. Seventy percent of patients with narcolepsy also have cataplexy. The drug imipramine may reduce the frequency of cataplexic attacks.
A transient episode of extreme muscular weakness, triggered by extreme emotional states such as fear, anger, or surprise; sudden and uncontrollable urge to sleep associated with narcolepsy.
A sudden loss of voluntary muscle control. Cataplexy is a classic symptom of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder characterized by sudden and irresistible collapses into sleep). Signs of cataplexy include slight weakness, a nodding head, garbled speech, sagging facial muscles, buckling knees, and limp arm muscles. In some cases, there is a total collapse, during which a person appears unconscious but remains awake and alert. Attacks last from several seconds to 30 minutes. They are triggered by emotions such as anger, fear, laughter, and surprise. Stress and fatigue increase a person’s susceptibility to cataplexy.
A recurrent condition in which the patient suddenly collapses to the ground without loss of consciousness Laughter or any strong emotion car provoke an attack. It is usually associate with narcolepsy.
Cataplexy is a condition in which the patient has a sudden attack of muscular weakness affecting the whole body.
A sudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response, such as a hearty laugh, excitement, surprise, or anger. Although this may cause collapse, the patient remains fully conscious. The episode lasts from a few seconds to as long as several minutes. The condition may be less severe with age. About 70% of patients with narcolepsy also have cataplexy.
Narcolepsy manifests as a symptom known as “emotional-induced muscle weakness,” where individuals experience abrupt episodes of diminished muscle strength upon experiencing heightened emotions. This phenomenon can result in the person’s knees giving way or their head involuntarily drooping. In more severe instances, patients may encounter temporary paralysis lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.
Cataplexy is a sudden reduction in muscle tone that leads to an involuntary collapse, while consciousness remains intact. This phenomenon is primarily triggered by intense emotions, particularly laughter, and is predominantly observed in individuals with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy.