What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a term many people have heard, but few understand what it is and the implications it can have on a person’s daily life. It impacts 200,000 Americans, but only 25 percent of people know they have it and receive treatment. In order to help loved ones who may not realize they have this or to help yourself come to an understanding of this condition, take a moment to learn what it is and the different ways it manifests.

What is Narcolepsy?

It is a sleep disorder and neurological condition that prevents the brain from regulating sleep patterns. It affects males and females at the same rate, although women are often diagnosed much later.1 It peaks during the 2nd and 3rd decade of a person’s life. A basic definition of what happens to a person with narcolepsy is they incur a sudden attack of sleep which can also be shown as hallucinations or a loss of muscle tone. There are two different types of narcolepsy:

Type 1: Excessive sleepiness with cataplexy

This is when extreme sleepiness occurs during the day. Cataplexy occurs when there is a loss of muscle tone in the body, triggered by a pleasant emotion. A laugh or simple burst of excitement can trigger this response. It can be alarming to those around the person experiencing it because it can come without warning and in extreme cases, can last for several minutes. It can appear as a total weakness in the face, arms, legs or trunk. Type 1 is better understood and recognized by medical professionals.

Type 2: Excessive sleepiness without cataplexy

Although less recognized by medical professionals, many people with narcolepsy have Type 2. They have no muscle weakness triggered by emotions. Their side effects are generally less severe. It is often caused by an injury, not due to inadequate hormone levels like Type 1.

Symptoms

While the major symptom or marker for narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness, there is more to the story and many symptoms that can go unnoticed or not show at all.

  • Cataplexy: As aforementioned, cataplexy does not impact everyone with narcolepsy. However, it is often the first symptom to show. At the least, they demonstrate signs of mild weakness in muscles, like droopy eyelids. In extreme cases, it can present as an extreme collapse and inability to speak that many confuse for a seizure.

 

  • Hypnotic Hallucinations: Hypnotic hallucinations are similar to dreams in that they occur as one is falling asleep or waking up. They are not asleep while these occur.  They are extremely detailed and for that reason can be frightening, especially to children2. Because of the low rate of narcolepsy, some patients with these symptoms are treated for issues like depression instead of narcolepsy3.

 

  • Sleep Paralysis: This is when an individual has the complete inability to move when they fall asleep or wake up. They are often unable to speak. At the longest, this lasts for a few minutes while the person is awake.

 

  • Sleep Attacks: When an individual is sleepy or falls asleep and cannot resist it, it is known as a sleep attack. It is a literal attack on the ability to stay awake, no matter what is happening.

 

  • Asymptomatic: A person may have narcolepsy, without any of these symptoms. However, a narcoleptic individual will always display signs of excessive sleepiness.

What Causes Narcolepsy?

Injury: The seriousness of a brain injury is well known. Although this cause is very rare, injury to the brain may result in a sleep disorder like narcolepsy. When the region of the brain that regulates sleep is altered or damaged, it can create sleep disturbances.

Hormonal: The hormone that helps you sleep is called Hypocretin. It is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that regulates your sleep cycles. A lack of this hormone may be the cause of the disorder, but more research needs to be done to understand what all can impact this hormone.

Genetics: Genetics and narcolepsy can be complex. Some have no family history of the disorder, however, there are recurring cases where the gene HALDQB10602 is strongly correlated with narcolepsy. As many as 90% of people with narcolepsy have this gene. It’s important to note that even if this gene is not present, they could still have the disease.

Diagnosis

Narcolepsy significantly impacts day to day life. Not knowing when you will suddenly fall asleep can be dangerous to those around you, especially when driving. In order to get diagnosed, a person needs to undergo overnight sleep testing (polysomnography). They will then need to follow up with a day time sleep test. Diagnoses are incomplete if this is not done because narcolepsy affects most people in the day. For this reason, analysis needs to be done in the day and night.

The daytime test is called a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). It consists of five napping opportunities that are monitored for 20 minutes every 2 hours. During the evaluation, sleep specialists look to see the rate at which an individual falls asleep and the quality of the REM cycle. A marker for narcolepsy is if the patient falls asleep in less than 8 minutes and have REMs in 2 naps.

Narcolepsy can greatly affect your quality of life and may even put you or others in danger. If you fit these symptoms or think you may have narcolepsy, it may be a good time to consult a doctor for a sleep test and contact us for testing today.

 

1) The Impact of Gender on Timeliness of Narcolepsy Diagnosis

Christine Won, Mandana Mahmoudi, Li Qin, Taylor Purvis, Aditi Mathur, Vahid Mohsenin

J Clin Sleep Med. 2014 Jan 15; 10(1): 89–95. Published online 2014 Jan 15. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.3370

PMCID: PMC3869076

2) Plazzi G, Pizza F, Palaia V, Franceschini C, Poli F, Moghadam KK, Cortelli P, Nobili L, Bruni O, Dauvilliers Y, Lin L, Edwards MJ, Mignot E, Bhatia KP. Complex movement disorders at disease onset in childhood narcolepsy with cataplexy. Brain 2011; 134:3480–92.

3) Narcolepsy in Adolescence—A Missed Diagnosis: A Case Report

Anoop K. Gupta, MBBS, Swapnajeet Sahoo, MD, and Sandeep Grover, MD. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2017 Jul-Aug; 14(7-8): 20–23.

Comments

  1. Sleep Apnea Los Angeles Reply

    I found this very studied and enlightening – especially on the topic of narcolepsy’s impact on daily habits. Would you mind if I paraphrased some of this content on my blog? Thank you

  2. émondeur Reply

    Thanks for this marvelous post, I am glad I observed this site on google.

  3. patricia a lynn ford Reply

    People with narcolepsy may feel rested after waking, but then feel very sleepy throughout much of the day.

  4. High Rated Gabru Reply

    Wow! Awesome article. thanks!

  5. website Reply

    Great work on this article. I never really understood this disorder before. thank you so much.

  6. tiny fishing Reply

    After waking up, people with narcolepsy may feel relaxed, but they may be quite sleepy for the rest of the day.

  7. Mark Matthews Reply

    A basic definition of what happens to a person with narcolepsy is they incur a sudden attack of sleep which can also be shown as hallucinations or a loss of muscle tone.

  8. Luminas Reply

    This illness has cost me my job, my friends, my self-confidence, my dignity. Work, the place we all go to make some money, pay the bills, and keep our children in school, that place where we feel like we make a difference in people’s lives—for me that place was in the hospital as a nurse.

  9. Realtor Reply

    Here was my reality: falling at home was no big deal. Mostly I would sleep until I felt more alert. Falling at work proved to be more of a problem. I no longer transported patients by myself. I could no longer hold a baby alone in my arms. I also made sure that I stood with my back directly up against a wall.

  10. Retaining walls are more than just a functional addition to your yard. They can also be used for decorative purposes, adding some flair and style into the way you use them at home! Whether this means incorporating raised garden beds or preventing soil sloping on land, they serve as an excellent feature of any outdoor space.

  11. animedle Reply

    Through the article, I see that it takes courage, the will to live has set out difficulties and adversities for me to overcome and become stronger.

  12. pacman 30th anniversary Reply

    For those who suffer from it, narcolepsy is a chronic condition that causes episodes of unexpected sleepiness.

  13. fnf mod Reply

    I realize that it requires courage to face the challenges and tribulations that the will to life has presented to me.

  14. frank smith Reply

    Thank you for this Artictle, I’m really psyched to check this website. very informative good job.

  15. ross shiva Reply

    I appreciated how informative and engaging your writing was

  16. KathyHolcomb Reply

    I see that it takes courage, the will to live has set out difficulties and adversities for me to overcome and become stronger.

  17. Play snake Reply

    Your writing was enjoyable to read. This document is quite helpful to me. I’ve bookmarked it and look forward to reading more. Keep up the fantastic job, please!

  18. Technical support Reply

    Thank you for the information.

  19. Foundation inspection Reply

    Pretty great article. Looking for more.

  20. Portland Reply

    It affects males and females at the same rate, although women are often diagnosed much later.

  21. fence experts Reply

    Great article. Keep sharing.

  22. Concrete colorado Reply

    Pretty well written content. Keep up the good work.

  23. Concrete Reply

    Glad to found this great content.

  24. Buffalo Reply

    It’s important to note that even if this gene is not present, they could still have the disease.

  25. Storysaver Reply

    The fact that only a small percentage of people affected by it receive proper treatment highlights the need for more awareness and education.

  26. Mini Crossword Reply

    This deficiency is thought to result from an autoimmune response, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the cells that produce hypocretin.

  27. Pavers Reply

    In rare instances, it may manifest as a severe collapse and muteness that many mistake for a seizure.

  28. Pacman 30th Anniversary Reply

    The history of Pacman 30th Anniversary dates back to 1980 when Namco, a Japanese game development company, first released the original Pac-Man. Creator Toru Iwatani’s inspiration for the game was sparked by pizza – he wanted to create a game that would appeal to both men and women alike during their lunch breaks.Pac-Man became an instant hit in Japan before it made its way overseas to America in October of the same year. It quickly gained popularity among arcade-goers worldwide, with many gaming enthusiasts becoming obsessed with beating each other’s high scores.

  29. Nerdlegame Reply

    Nerdle is a video game that requires players to solve math problems in an entertaining and captivating way. It is akin to the classic word problem game, Wordle. The game provides a stimulating challenge for players of all ages and abilities. The objective is to solve math problems while navigating through levels filled with exciting obstacles.

  30. Peter Nguyen Fitness Reply

    This is a great article on Narcolepsy. Here are my 5 tips that I use to train clients with Narcolepsy
    1. I create a personalised exercise plan. As a personal trainer, I help you create an exercise plan that is tailored to your specific needs and abilities. This will help you avoid overexerting yourself and make sure you are getting the most out of your workouts.
    2. Motivate you to stay active. Clients with narcolepsy can often feel tired and unmotivated to exercise. As your fitness trainer, I provide you with the support and encouragement you need to stay on track with your fitness goals.
    3. Teach you how to manage your symptoms. Being your physical trainer, I teach you how to manage your narcolepsy symptoms through exercise. For example, I can help you find exercises that are less likely to trigger sleep attacks.
    4. Help you improve your sleep quality. Exercise can help improve sleep quality in people with narcolepsy. As your coach, I help you develop an exercise routine that will help you get a good night’s sleep.
    5. Improve your overall health and well-being. Exercise has many benefits for people with narcolepsy, including improved physical health, mental health, and quality of life. Being your health trainer I help you achieve these benefits and live a more fulfilling life.

  31. Criação de site Reply

    Thank you for bringing attention to narcolepsy and its often misunderstood impact on individuals’ daily lives. It’s crucial to bridge the awareness gap surrounding this condition, given that a significant number of affected individuals may not even be aware of their condition. Your initiative to educate people about narcolepsy, its prevalence, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment is commendable. By shedding light on the various manifestations of narcolepsy, you’re contributing to a better understanding and fostering support for those affected. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and your efforts may lead to improved recognition and assistance for individuals dealing with narcolepsy.

  32. Renovations Lake Havasu Reply

    Thank you for this

  33. io games Reply

    Genetics can be a factor in narcolepsy, with some individuals having a family history of the disorder. The presence of the HALDQB10602 gene is strongly correlated with narcolepsy in many cases.

  34. Icariin UK Reply

    I think I’ve had this before without cataplexy. Never would have known that it was a named medical condition. Thanks for the insight.

  35. classroom 6x Reply

    Games can also be a fun and social activity, which can help us to connect with others and build relationships.

  36. Best Led TV Reply

    This article provides valuable insights into the topic at hand.Multynet’s best LED TV seems like a game-changer! The sleek design and advanced features make it a top choice for anyone looking to elevate their viewing experience.

  37. Car Games Reply

    The constant updates and additions to car games keep the content fresh, providing long-lasting entertainment for players.

  38. OKBet casino Reply

    It’s nice to see your writing, which is exactly what I need, it’s very detailed

  39. Aaron Webb Reply

    However, depending on the kind of snoring you are experiencing, it could be a sign of a more serious issue.

Leave a Reply to frank smith Cancel reply