Narcolepsy Overview
Narcolepsy is typically characterized by excessive
sleepiness and drowsiness during the day, this sleeping disorder can seriously
affect a person’s work life and it is common in both the male and female
population. A person with narcolepsy is extremely sleepy all the time and tends
to fall asleep involuntarily several times every day. There may be attacks of
almost irresistible urge to sleep. If not properly treated it may in cases put
the lives of the patient and those around him in danger, like if the patient is
driving and has an attack of sleepiness.
Although narcoleptics may sleep poorly at night, the
daytime sleepiness of narcolepsy is generally not related to the quality of
nighttime sleep, this excessive daytime sleepiness is not due to a mood
disorder or effect of a medication. Narcolepsy is caused by a malfunction in a
brain structure called the hypothalamus, the exact cause of narcolepsy disorder
is not yet known, but doctors believe it might be linked to genes, virus
attacks and traumas to the head.
Narcolepsy Symptoms
Narcolepsy symptoms can appear all at once or develop gradually over many years. The four most common symptoms are:
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: The patient may have bouts of sleep in the daytime usually without intention, a behavior that is dangerous for their lives and employment.
Cataplexy: A sudden loss of strength in the muscles which is brought on by a powerful emotional trigger such as laughing or anger or strenuous exercise. This may cause a collapse without loss of consciousness and may last for few seconds to few minutes.
Sleep Paralysis: May occur at the point of falling asleep or more often when a patient wakes up, they may not be able to talk or move or even breathe, and this may last for a brief period.
Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Hallucinations that occur just before falling asleep, during naps, and/or upon waking up, the patient may have dream-like perceptions of sights, sounds, and emotions that happen when the patient is not fully asleep or when not fully awake.
Narcolepsy Diagnosis
To diagnose narcolepsy, initially, the patient should undergo a detailed medical history and physical examination. A diary should also be maintained to rule out bad sleeping habits like frequent late-night stays and insufficient sleep as these habits may also cause symptoms similar to narcolepsy. A polysomnogram test is performed to monitor the patient’s various bodily functions and indicators like breathing, blood oxygen levels, snoring, and heart rate throughout the night while the patient is asleep. Following the polysomnogram, a sleep latency tests will then be performed to assess how easily the patient falls asleep in the day and the type of sleep patterns produced during these sleep spells. This test may show if there are REM (rapid eye movement or dreaming) during sleep.
Narcolepsy Treatment
The treatment of Narcolepsy depends on the severity of the condition. Excessive daytime sleepiness can be treated with stimulant medication and lifestyle modification which a sleep doctor can advise. Scheduled naps may also help. To treat other symptoms associated with narcolepsy, certain antidepressants may also be used.
If you feel you are suffering from Narcolepsy, book an appointment with a sleep physician at the Sleep Central.