Narcolepsy
People with narcolepsy are excessively sleep during the day and can find themselves uncontrollably falling asleep during the day. This can happen at any time which can put the individual in risky conditions. The sleep cycle involves several stages that take about 90 minutes before a person is considered to be in deep sleep or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Those with narcolepsy however enter REM sleep occurs almost instantly during their sleep attacks.
Symptoms
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS): a lack of energy and concentration, memory lapses, a depressed mood, and/or extreme exhaustion.
- Cataplexy: sudden loss of muscle tone that leads to feelings of weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control. slurred speech to total body collapse
- Hallucinations vivid visual delusional episodes
- Sleep paralysis: temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The polysomnogram (PSG) and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) are used to diagnose narcolepsy. The PSG is a test taken overnight that makes measurements while the patient is sleeping. These measurements are used to determine abnormalities in the patient's sleep cycle. The MSLT is a test taken during the day that measures a person's tendency to fall asleep and the appearance of REM sleep through out the day.
There is no cure for narcolepsy, but it can be managed using medication and by adjusting your life style.
There is no cure for narcolepsy, but it can be managed using medication and by adjusting your life style.