-lepsy, -lepsia, -lepsis, -leptic
(Greek: a suffix; a violent attack, a seizing)
geloplegia, gelotolepsy
1. Loss of muscle tone induced by sudden or excessive laughter.
2. A sudden loss of muscle tone (
cataplexy) induced by uproarious laughter.
Cataplexy is a debilitating medical condition in which a person suddenly feels weak and collapses at moments of strong emotion; such as, laughter, anger, fear, or surprise.
Laughter and other emotions trigger a reflex in persons that can bring many of the muscles of the body to the point of collapse.
gelostic epilepsy
A form of epilepsy characterized by uncontrollable laughing.
gelotolepsy
1. Loss of muscle tone induced by laughter.
2. A sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) caused by uproarious (loud and unrestrained) laughter.
hypnolepsy
A chronic ailment that consists of recurrent attacks of drowsiness and sleep during daytime;
narcolepsy.
The patient is unable to control these spells of sleep but is easily awakened. These attacks may be distinguished from ordinary drowsiness following a meal by the frequency of the occurrence of such attacks, their irresistibility, and their happening in unusual circumstances; such as, while eating, standing, or conversing.
hysterocatalepsy
Hysteria with cataleptic manifestations or sustained immobility of postures or physical positions.
hysteroepilepsy
1. A disease resembling hysteria in its nature, and characterized by the occurrence of epileptiform convulsions, which can often be controlled or excited by pressure on the ovaries, and upon other definite points in the body.
2. A disease resembling hysteria in its nature, and characterized by the occurrence of epileptiform convulsions or a disorder of the central nervous system expressed by a loss of consciousness and convulsions.
hysteronarcolepsy
Narcolepsy of emotional origin.
logolepsy
An obsession with words.
matutinal epilepsy
A form of epilepsy which occurs when waking up in the morning.
narcolepsy
1. A morbid inclination to sleep.
2. Uncontrollable sleepiness or desire to sleep; usually coming on at intervals even when the subject is supposed to be awake and active.
3. A sleep disorder that usually appears in young adulthood, consisting of recurring episodes of sleep during the day, and often disrupted nocturnal sleep; frequently accompanied by cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations; a genetically determined disease.
Sometimes narcolepsy is described as "sleep attack"
There are times when narcolepsy, or severe sleepiness, occurs so suddenly and with such overwhelming power that it is referred to as a "sleep attack".
Some victims have several "attacks" each day. Excessive daytime sleepiness often occurs at inopportune times: in the classroom, at business meetings, during a meal, in the middle of a conversation, or even when active before an audience of people; such as, an announcer on TV as shown in the above image.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally.
At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. This abnormal condition also takes place with some animals.