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Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder, which is lifelong and potentially disabling.
It is a less common sleep disorder than sleep apnea. The symptoms of Narcolepsy include:
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS):
EDS is usually noticed first. It is sometimes expressed as lack of energy, tiredness,
or irresistible urge to fall asleep. The person falls asleep at inappropriate
times such as during conversations, in meetings, classes, etc. People with narcolepsy
fall asleep unexpectedly many times throughout the day.
Cataplexy:
It is characterized by muscle weakness usually triggered by an emotional situation
such as laughter, anger, or excitement. A cataplectic attack can be a brief
duration of partial muscle weakness to a virtually complete loss of muscle control.
There may be a complete physical collapse causing the sufferer to fall to the
ground but still conscious.
Sleep Paralysis:
It is characterized by an inability to move for several minutes after waking up.
Hallucinations:
These are vivid experiences, which occur just before or after sleep.
Unlike normal sleep, that of people with narcolepsy often begins with dreaming
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and the time taken to fall asleep is shorter
than normal as well. Proper diagnosis is made by an overnight sleep study followed
by a daytime study called an MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) in a sleep disorders
clinic. MSLT is an objective test to quantify the extent of daytime sleepiness
and to confirm narcolepsy.
There is no cure yet, but the treatment of Narcolepsy may include good sleep
hygiene, adequate sleep time,
scheduled napping during the day and medication.
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