Catalepsy is a disorder of the nervous system in that the person who suffers primarily presents a state of body rigidity and can not move. In most cases, they remain conscious to hear and see what is going on around them.
This condition is also known as apparent death and was the cause of various deaths in ancient times. The episode’s duration can be from a few minutes to several weeks, so they believed that the person had died and was buried alive later; they died from suffocation or panic attacks.
When the person is paralyzed by this disorder, which usually occurs suddenly, being conscious to some degree can be not very comforting. Still, it is not a serious matter, and it is possible to return to normal by detecting what causes it. For this reason, at FastlyHealwe want to inform you about catalepsy: causes, symptoms and treatment .
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Some Causes of Catalepsy
When a person suffers from an episode of catalepsy, it is usually a sign of a more excellent condition. It is not a disease, but an effect or symptom, mainly of pathologies that involve the nervous system, including epilepsy and the disease Parkinson’s.
In the same way, it can be the result of a psychotic disorder, documented primarily in people with schizophrenia; in these cases, although it is not very common, catalepsy may arise as a side effect of the drugs used in the treatment of the said condition, for example, haloperidol.
On the other hand, patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment for addiction to certain drugs or harmful substances may present this condition, which is why the withdrawal syndrome is considered a possible cause of catalepsy, often due to the degree of anxiety generated.
Although in fewer cases, other conditions can lead to episodes of catalepsy, as observed in some people who suffer from obesity, sleep apnea, or depression. In rare cases, catalepsy may also be caused by extreme emotions, for example, after an accident and as a side effect after surgery to straighten the nasal septum.
Main symptoms of catalepsy
Before developing an episode of catalepsy, you may have anxiety, fatigue, and back pain. On the other hand, it is not uncommon that, after one of these episodes, one thinks that the person has died due to the state in which they are; however, this is not the case, and it is essential to know the symptoms of catalepsy. Mainly it is observed:
- The body stiffens.
- The skin turns pale.
- Decreased or no response to visual stimuli or pain sensitivity.
- Body functions slow down, mainly breathing and heart rate.
- Partial or complete loss of control over the muscles.
- Waxy flexibility is present when moving a member of the body remains in that immobile position without the need for you to hold it.
Treatment to combat catalepsy
Once the person develops the cataleptic episode, they must undergo electroencephalogram or electrocardiogram examinations, especially if it lasts for a long time, so that the doctor can correctly diagnose this condition and rule out the patient’s death.
As for this condition in itself, there is no treatment for catalepsy, so it is necessary to determine the possible cause and, based on this, the procedure will be carried out to improve the state in which the patient is, in which The objective will be to reduce the effect of this pathology. It may be that the doctor prescribes muscle relaxants since their effectiveness has been seen in cases where catalepsy is caused by nervous diseases such as Parkinson’s. In other situations, treatment for catalepsy could include the use of antipsychotic drugs accompanied by psychotherapies.
On the contrary, when the cause of catalepsy is due to another factor, such as extreme emotion or withdrawal syndrome, they usually disappear by themselves, and the duration can vary, even remaining immobile for weeks.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.