Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy or sudden loss of muscle tone. Also known as cataplexy, cataplexy is a symptom where the affected person suddenly loses muscle tone and appears to slump over, often without provocation. As a result, the cataplexy sufferer may fall to the ground. The condition affects an estimated 1 percent of adults and may be more common in men, though the incidence is increasing among young women.
Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder characterized by cataplexy, sudden loss of muscle tone, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy can also involve episodes of sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and dream. Sleep deprivation can be a major problem, but narcolepsy is even worse. Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes sufferers to have extreme sleepiness throughout the day. They wake up frequently during the night and only get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Narcolepsy can impair your ability to perform routine tasks, and many sufferers will have trouble functioning at work.
What causes narcolepsy
Narcolepsy causes an imbalance of brain chemicals, making it hard to stay alert during the day. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes you to fall asleep suddenly, often during activities. This can happen during the day or at night, and it prevents you from fully waking up. Narcolepsy can have a number of causes, including;
-being overweight
-having diabetes
-smoking tobacco
-hormonal changes
-psychological stress
What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population. People with narcolepsy experience sudden episodes of uncontrollable and intense daytime sleepiness. GPs diagnose narcolepsy if they suspect the following:
- You fall asleep at inappropriate times
- You fall asleep during the day, even when you are at work
- You fall asleep during conversations or when you are driving
- You fall asleep at inappropriate times
- You sleep during the day, even when you are at work
- You wake up feeling unrefreshed and fall asleep again
- The symptoms come on suddenly
- The symptoms last more than 3 months
- You have a family history of narcolepsy
- You suffer from other conditions that are known to cause or worsen sleep disorders
Hypnogogic hallucinations
Hypnagogic hallucinations in sleep-disordered narcolepsy are experienced by about 20-30% of people with narcolepsy. They are usually brief (less than 10 seconds) and occur approximately 6-10 times per night. Hallucinations are described as seeing, hearing, or feeling strange phenomena (such as flying, animals, humans, or flashing lights) or a combination of both.
Cataplexy
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition that is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. The condition causes sudden sleep attacks and makes it difficult to stay awake during the day. Cataplexy, or muscle weakness, is another common manifestation of the disorder. Cataplexy involves a sudden, temporary reduction in voluntary muscle control that generally occurs without full REM sleep. Sudden muscle weakness typically occurs when the individual is suddenly exposed to strong emotions, such as fear, anger, or surprise.
Sleep paralysis
For those with narcolepsy, the experience of sleep paralysis can be terrifying. Sleep paralysis involves the mind being awake while the body is asleep. It’s caused by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and usually only lasts a few seconds. If you have a seizure or injury during REM sleep, you may experience paralysis, too.
Sleep paralysis is a condition that causes temporary paralysis during dreams, often waking a person up from sleep. While sleep paralysis is more common in adults, it can also affect children. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, symptoms include:
– Feeling as if one is unable to move.
– Feeling of falling.
– Feeling of being choked.
– Unbreakable paralysis.
– Feeling as if there is someone or something in the room.
Treatments for narcolepsy
Wake-promoting medications
Medical professionals struggle effectively treat narcolepsy in some individuals. Therefore, it is important to try new treatment options when existing treatments do not provide adequate symptom control. One way to treat narcolepsy is with wake-promoting medications, which are medications that are designed to produce alertness. However, wake-promoting drugs may not work for some people with narcolepsy. You can check out clinical trials for narcolepsy at Power if you’re looking for additional treatment options for narcolepsy.
Sodium oxybate
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes people to have uncontrollable episodes of cataplexy or muscle weakness and paralysis. One form of treatment for narcolepsy is sodium oxybate, a prescription medication that increases levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, a chemical that calms the brain and nervous system. Research suggests that sodium oxybate is an effective treatment option for narcolepsy, especially when used in combination with another medication, cataplexy medication.
Stimulants
Narcolepsy is a condition where a person falls asleep suddenly during the day without warning. Without treatment, they’re at risk of accidents, injury, and even death. Fortunately, stimulant medication can help restore normal sleep and daytime functioning. The most commonly used stimulant medication is modafinil.