Occasional Narcolepsy
- Occasional Narcolepsy
- Occasional Narcolepsy Symptoms
- Occasional Narcolepsy Causes
- Occasional Narcolepsy Test
Narcolepsy Overview
Narcolepsy is a rare chronic neurological disorder usually associated with the sleep-wake cycle. It, therefore, affects the brain by inhibiting its ability to regulate the patterns of sleeping and waking accordingly. This is henceforth evidenced by affected individuals unwillingly falling asleep at odd hours of the day immensely affecting their everyday activities.
Narcolepsy Narcolepsy is an uncommon disorder that causes periods of extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, brief episodes of deep sleep during the day. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and, in some cases, cataplexy. There are two major types of narcolepsy: type 1 and type 2 2, differentiated by whether or not a person experiences cataplexy.
Narcolepsy is a global disorder affecting individuals all over the world. Thus research conducted by several scientists indicates that at least one out of every 2000 people usually has Narcolepsy. This estimates to about 200000 individuals in the USA alone. Researchers however add that many people suffering from narcolepsy may at some point have been misdiagnosed or ignored as a condition contributing to an even higher number of affected persons.
Symptoms associated
Narcolepsy affects both males and females equally with symptoms appearing at any point in life. Nevertheless, these symptoms are usually vivid between the ages of 7 and 25. The symptoms include:
Excessive daytime sleepiness
This is usually the most common and devastating. It is usually characterized by persistent sleep attacks by suddenly succumbing to sleep without warning at any time of the day regardless of the sufficiency of sleep received at night. These usually last from seconds to several minutes and are usually devastating as they can occur during an engagement/activity.
Cataplexy
This is the sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone characterized by muscle weakness and loss of voluntary muscle control while an individual is awake. These attacks usually last from seconds to several minutes varying from each individual. Some of the associated side effects include jaw-dropping, uncontrollable leg collapsing, slurred speech, double vision, and even total body collapse. These may be experienced several times a day or occasionally every year. Cataplexy attacks are usually triggered by heightened emotions such as excitement, laughter, anger, and surprise among others.
Sleep paralysis
This is the temporary inability of an individual to move or speak when falling asleep or immediately waking up, a condition replicated only during deep sleep. This may take second to minutes. It is nonetheless harmful in any way apart from the occasional fright of the moment.
Hallucinations
These symptoms are usually frightening as they usually appear as dreams amidst the process of falling asleep or waking up thus while they are partially awake making them seem like reality to many individuals suffering from narcolepsy. It usually involves a variety of senses making it a very vivid experience.
Other common symptoms include
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Automatic behavior
Causes of Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a disorder currently still under deeper research and studies thus, many characteristics inclusive of the causes are not yet properly comprehensive. Nevertheless, some of the compiled causes associated include:
Autoimmune disorders
This is attributed to the rare occasional attacks on the healthy body tissues and systems by antibodies. Researchers deduced that in individuals with type 1 narcolepsy, the body’s immune system selectively attacks the brain cells which produces hypocretin, a vital hormone in promoting wakefulness and regulating REM sleeping. Thus, immensely reducing the levels of the hypocretin hormone to extremely low levels leading to narcolepsy and cataplexy.
Family history
This is in relation to inherited hereditary faulty genes through generations and environmental factors. Despite this still being subject under research, scientists have deduced that at least 10 percent of affected individuals reported having close relatives with similar afflictions.
Underlying conditions
These are usually attributed to the major causes of secondary narcolepsy in many individuals. This is due to incurred damages to parts of the brain responsible for sleep regulation which is the hypothalamus. Therefore, trauma to the head, a brain tumor, or even multiple sclerosis may immensely affect the hypothalamus which in turn will disrupt its ability to produce orexin (hypocretin) resulting in narcolepsy.
Diagnosis and treatment
After noticing some of the above-mentioned symptoms, an individual should seek out medical advice and assistance from a nearby health facility. The diagnosis process may usually last a while as the doctor usually needs to record sleep patterns and symptoms for one or two weeks.
This is usually then sealed with a physical exam to confirm the diagnosis. The exam is usually done by utilizing either of the following specialized tests.
- The polysomnogram (sleep study)
- Multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT)
- Epworth sleepiness scale
Occasional Narcolepsy
After confirmation of the disorder, the doctors will draft a treatment plan which is usually inclusive of both medications and lifestyle changes. Some of the medications include modafinil and armodafinil.
Modafinil
Modafinil (generic Provigil) is the initial and most utilized medication for narcolepsy. However, when it comes to Modafinil cost, it is important to research competitors and find the bargain. There are other options too. Some of which include;
- Amphetamine-like stimulants
- Antidepressants
- Sodium oxybate
Lifestyle changes proposed by medical practitioners
- Taking short and regularly scheduled naps
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed
- Engaging in everyday exercises
- Avoid smoking
- Eat responsibly and avoid heavy meals right before sleeping
Narcolepsy is usually not a very harmful disorder however, some of the associated symptoms usually result in safety issues such as accidents and even deaths if not properly controlled and regulated.
What is narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes persistent sleepiness throughout the day, disrupting the brain’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles.
Approximately 60–70% of people diagnosed with narcolepsy also experience cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone often triggered by a strong emotion like excitement or laughter. Narcolepsy that occurs with cataplexy is called narcolepsy type 1. Narcolepsy that occurs without cataplexy is called narcolepsy type 2.
What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness. An inability to remain awake and alert during the daytime / unintended lapses into drowsiness or sleep
- Cataplexy. Brief episodes, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, characterized by physical changes that may range from buckling of the knees or slurred speech to total paralysis with collapse. Not everyone with narcolepsy experiences cataplexy.
- Sleep paralysis. Temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking up
- Hallucinations. Vivid experiences that may occur while falling asleep or waking up
How is narcolepsy diagnosed?
Occasional Narcolepsy Symptoms
If you experience symptoms of narcolepsy, you should talk to your doctor about possibly having a sleep test. Your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist for evaluation and diagnosis. Your doctor or a sleep specialist will likely discuss your symptoms with you and ask about your medical history and any family history of sleep-related issues. You may also be asked to:
Occasional Narcolepsy Causes
- Rate your sleepiness in several categories using a numeric scale
- Keep a diary for a short period of time to record your sleeping and other symptoms
- Take an overnight sleep test to monitor your body and brain while you sleep
- Take a daytime sleep test to see how long it takes you to fall asleep during the day
How is narcolepsy treated?
Occasional Narcolepsy Test
Treatment often focuses on trying to relieve symptoms. Stimulant medication may be prescribed to help you stay awake during the day, while the symptoms of cataplexy are sometimes treated with antidepressants. Additionally, some simple lifestyle-related steps may help, such as sticking to a regular sleep schedule, taking occasional short naps to avoid unexpected sleep attacks, and avoiding activities that result in sleep loss (staying up late on weekends).