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Narcolepsy
- Narcolepsy is a nerve condition that can cause abnormal sleep, affecting your quality of life.
- Although it is rare, narcolepsy is a chronic condition that is often misdiagnosed for something else and not given the right treatment.
- It usually occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 25, with experts suggesting that 1 in 2000 people face narcolepsy.
- The disease is defined by “sleep attacks” during the day and poor or patchy sleep at night.
- In some cases, narcolepsy can even cause loss of muscle of control.
- Although not fatal by itself, narcolepsy attacks can lead to accidents that can prove to be life-threatening.
- Here’s everything you need to know about this nerve problem:
Symptoms
EDS
- The most prominent symptom of narcolepsy is drowsiness during the day.
- Known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), narcolepsy brings with it an overwhelming need to sleep, in what is known as a “sleep attack”.
- EDS makes it overwhelmingly difficult to function properly during the day.
Cataplexy
- Late into its disease cycle, narcolepsy can cause loss of muscle tone or temporary loss of muscle function.
- Known as cataplexy, the condition can cause problems ranging from droopy eyelids to total loss of body function.
- Anti-depressant medication can suppress cataplexy.
Poor REM Sleep
- Another symptom of narcolepsy is poorly regulated REM sleep, which can cause fragmented sleep.
- Instead of occurring at night, REM sleep occurs at any time of day for people suffering from narcolepsy.
Sleep Paralysis
- Narcolepsy can also cause regular bouts of sleep paralysis, mimicking the paralysis seen during REM sleep.
Hallucinations
- Finally, you might have to face hallucinations during narcolepsy.
- These hallucinations typically occur when falling asleep or waking up.
Types
- There are two types of narcolepsy, with the distinction being the occurrence of cataplexy.
- Type 1 narcolepsy is more common and leads to the development of cataplexy.
- Cataplexy causes a loss in muscle tone and bouts of extreme sleepiness during the day.
- Both symptoms occur due to a lack or low levels of a protein known as hypocretin (also known as oxerin).
- Type 2 narcolepsy does not lead to the development of cataplexy due to the body having normal levels of hypocretin.
Causes
- The primary driver behind type 1 narcolepsy is a low amount of hypocretin in the brain.
- Hypocretin is believed to be responsible for regulating sleep cycles.
- However, there is no known cause for this.
- Experts believe gene mutations, autoimmune disorders, stress, infections, exposure to toxins to be primary causes for narcolepsy.
- Furthermore, a family history of narcolepsy can increase your chances of getting the disease.
Diagnosis
- Narcolepsy is characterized by disturbed sleep, and a medical professional can diagnose it with sleep evaluations such as a polysomnogram.
- Blood and spinal fluid tests may also be conducted.
- However, narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed due to its less definitive symptoms.
Treatment
- Narcolepsy does not have a cure, with treatments making it easier for you to manage the disease.
- Medication for narcolepsy includes stimulants, antidepressants, and anti-allergens.
