What Is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles. Narcolepsy typically affects patients in their teenage years or in their 20’s. Sometimes patients are diagnosed in their 40’s or 50’s. In severe cases patients are prone to falling asleep with little or no warning. These are known as sleep attacks.

  • Signs And Symptoms

    Symptoms of Narcolepsy

    Narcolepsy is a syndrome that can be characterized by chronic daytime sleepiness, accompanied by hypnogogic hallucinations (vivid dreams that occur during overnight sleep or when falling asleep), sleep paralysis and cataplexy (an abrupt temporary loss of voluntary muscular function and tone, evoked by an emotional stimulus such as laughter, pleasure, anger, or excitement). It is often the case where patients may not have all the symptoms but daytime sleepiness is a constant symptom in almost all patients

  • Common Causes

    Causes of Narcolepsy

    Most people with narcolepsy have low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin, which promotes wakefulness. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that neurons produce to communicate with each other and to regulate biological processes.

  • Conditions Associated

    Other Common Conditions Associated With Narcolepsy

    Narcolepsy patients are often misdiagnosed as depressed or having mood disorders because their sleepiness leads to mood disorder. Also, Narcolepsy can be a manifestation of other sleep or medical disorders. These can include untreated sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, or insufficient sleep.

  • Why Seek Help

    Why Seek Help for Narcolepsy

    The daytime sleepiness such patients experience significantly affects job performance, marriage, and social relationships. Patients report they plan their days around taking a nap. As a result patients often chose to stay home instead of attending social events.

  • Diagnosis & Treatment

    Diagnosis for Narcolepsy

    All patients having chronic daytime sleepiness, hypnogogic hallucinations, cataplexy or sleep paralysis should have a sleep evaluation. Testing may consist of an overnight polysomnogram followed by a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). This can help to identify pathologic sleepiness, and abnormal sleep-wake transitions.

    Treatment for Narcolepsy

    Pharmacologic therapy and good sleep hygiene are the mainstay of treatment.

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