The Guardian (Free subscription) | 08/19/2008
Every time Kay Underwood finds something funny her muscles become paralysed and she collapses. She tells Kate Hilpern about living with cataplexy
IndianPad - Popular Stories (Free subscription) | 09/03/2008
Kay Underwood, 20, has cataplexy, which means that almost any sort of strong emotion triggers a dramatic weakening of her muscles. Exhilaration, anger, fear, surprise, awe and even embarrassment can also cause sufferers to suddenly collapse on the spot. Victims are often left paralysed for several minutes, although they always retain the ability to hear what is going on around them. Kay, of...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 08/19/2008
Life & style: Kay Underwood collapses every time she laughs. She explains what it's like to live with cataplexy
POE News (Free subscription) | 08/11/2008
08/11/08 - - Tags: , , narcolepsy, cataplexy, gigglesNot Rated - Student Kay Underwood risks temporary paralysis ever time she gets a fit of the giggles because of a rare muscle disorder.Related Videos On poeTVLatest matches for: Latest matches for: Latest matches for: Latest matches for:
Daily Mail (Free subscription) | 08/05/2008
They say laughter is the best medicine, but not in Kay Underwood's case. In fact, a fit of the giggles is all it takes to cause the 20-year-old student to collapse.
Fox News (Free subscription) | 08/06/2008
Kay Underwood, of Barrow Upon Soar in Leicestershire, England has cataplexy, a neurological condition often confused with epilepsy.
BPS Research Digest (Free subscription) | 08/06/2008
Yesterday the BBC reported the case of Kay Underwood, a 20-year-old student who can't help collapsing if she's made to laugh. Underwood says her friends think she's putting it on, but in fact she has cataplexy . This is a condition that affects a minority of patients with narcolepsy (a tendency to fall asleep in the day). It involves the muscles weakening in response to certain emotional...
Daily Mail on Sunday (Free subscription) | 08/05/2008
They say laughter is the best medicine, but not in Kay Underwood's case. In fact, a fit of the giggles is all it takes to cause the 20-year-old student to collapse on the spot.
Daily Mail (Free subscription) | 08/04/2008
They say laughter is the best medicine, but not in Kay Underwood's case. In fact, a fit of the giggles is all it takes to cause the 20-year-old student to collapse on the spot.
Boing Boing (Free subscription) | 08/06/2008
Kay Underwood, 20, of Leicestershire, England, frequently falls over with laughter. Literally. She suffers from the medical condition cataplexy, which manifests as sudden muscle weakness that can be triggered by intense emotional experiences like anger, surprise, and laughter. She is also narcoleptic. From BBC News: The University of Lincoln architecture student has in the past collapsed 40...
Jezebel (Free subscription) | 08/05/2008
Kay Underwood, a 20-year-old girl from England, becomes temporarily paralyzed every time she has a fit of giggles. She suffers from cataplexy, a muscle weakness triggered by extreme emotions, which... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Ph articles (Free subscription) | 08/05/2008
A Lincoln-based student wants to arouse awareness about a state which could paralyse her if she gets the giggles. Kay Underwood, 20, of Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire, has cataplexy, which means her muscles weaken when she laughs, causing her to fall over. The University of Lincoln architecture student has in the past collapsed 40 times in a single day. She said many people compass that she...
bog-brush (Free subscription) | 08/05/2008
Kay Underwood, 20, has cataplexy, which means that almost any sort of strong emotion triggers a dramatic weakening of her muscles. Exhilaration, anger, fear, surprise, awe and even embarrassment can also cause sufferers to suddenly collapse on the spot. Victims are often left paralysed for several minutes, although they always retain the ability to hear what is [...]
Evening Standard (Free subscription) | 08/04/2008
They say laughter is the best medicine, but not in Kay Underwood's case. In fact, a fit of the giggles is all it takes to cause the 20-year-old student to collapse on the spot.
Channel 4 (Free subscription) | 08/05/2008
Last Modified: 05 Aug 2008Source: PA News A 20-year-old student who could be paralysed if she gets a fit of the giggles has said more people should be aware of her unusual condition.Kay Underwood, of Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, has cataplexy, which is a sudden weakening of the muscles brought on by strong emotions.In Miss Underwood's case, laughter is the cause - on one day alone,...
