Narcolepsy

Feeling sleepy during the day sometimes is normal, but in the case of narcolepsy, the patient becomes extremely sleepy to a point that interferes with their life.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a type of sleep disorder that makes the person unable to resist the need to fall asleep in the daytime.

Despite the fact that narcolepsy isn’t a common condition, the diagnosis might take a long time to be confirmed; therefore, we can’t know exactly how it’s spread worldwide.

Causes of narcolepsy

• Type 1 narcolepsy: It’s triggered by the low levels of hypocretin (orexin), which is a chemical in the brain that contributes to controlling sleep and being awake. Researchers suspect that this lack of orexin occurs due to an autoimmune reaction. This type involves cataplexy.
• Type 2 narcolepsy: It constitutes around 80% of cases, and it doesn’t involve cataplexy.
• Genetics might play a role in developing narcolepsy, and having a family history increases the risk of narcolepsy 20-40 times.

Symptoms of narcolepsy

• Excessive sleepiness and an irresistible need to sleep during the daytime.
• Falling asleep suddenly anywhere and anytime.
• Not being able to concentrate and staying alert.
• The patient might suffer from hallucinations just after falling asleep or before waking up.
• Cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness).
• Sleep paralysis, which means that the patient is unable to move when waking up or while falling asleep.
• Continue working after falling asleep, which is called automatic movements.
• Amnesia.
• Narcolepsy might lead to physical harm and increases the risk of obesity.

Diagnosis of narcolepsy

• Evaluating the symptoms.
• Sleep history.
• Sleep study.
• Lumbar puncture.

Treatment of narcolepsy

Narcolepsy can’t be completely cured, but it can be managed by:

• Medications.
• Changes in the lifestyle and daily routine.