5 Warning Signs Of Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of sleep. Many warning signs may precede narcolepsy. This article will focus on five of those warning signs.
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of sleep. Many warning signs may precede narcolepsy. This article will focus on five of those warning signs.
These periods of sleep often feel like a nap to the person experiencing them, and during these periods, people with narcolepsy experience hallucinations, paralysis, amnesia, lapses in attention, and more.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
Narcolepsy may start with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a strong need to sleep during the day, almost every day. In this phase, symptoms are mild and not disabling. The patient and his physician often overlook this phase because it is usually transient and does not cause any obvious dysfunction. In this phase, the person can be tired for hours after a good night's sleep and falls asleep uncharacteristically early in the evening without feeling tired. In addition to this, patients report frequent naps.
Cataplexy
After the first few years, narcolepsy may progress to the second phase, a more severe condition known as cataplexy. People will lose muscle control at odd times during the day. For example, they might be able to walk and then suddenly stumble or fall because of a lack of muscle control. Patients may have this symptom for years before it becomes apparent to others.
Hallucinations
These disorganized thoughts and images appear in the mind during general sleep. The person is not dreaming but not fully conscious either. For instance, a person may see themselves leaving the room or hear a voice speaking to them while they are asleep, but they cannot respond verbally. In this phase, a person will experience one or several of these symptoms every day at least once. The frequency and severity of these symptoms are directly related to narcolepsy. The more severe the symptoms, the more severe the sleep disorder.
Sleep Paralysis
People with narcolepsy may also experience sleep paralysis. This is when they are unable to move while they are asleep. In this state, there is a paralysis of the muscles but no consciousness. For example, a child might have a nightmare and be unable to move even if someone wakes them up to make them safer. In this case, if a person has narcolepsy, they will have these nightmares and be unable to move a muscle. When they wake up and can move, they may still feel numb or paralyzed.
Disrupted Sleep
Once sleep paralysis occurs, the patient's sleep cycle becomes disrupted. They might have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or may wake up too early. This can cause daytime fatigue, which can be disabling to the patient and dangerous if they are driving a motor vehicle or performing other activities that require concentration and coordination.
While there is no cure for narcolepsy, there are many different treatments to help bring symptoms under control. The first step is to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and a recommended course of treatment. It would be advisable to work with a sleep psychologist or other physician who specializes in treating narcolepsy.
Sleeping medications can be prescribed that can help the patient reach sleep more easily and stay asleep longer. These medications are usually taken to gradually wean the person off them over a few weeks or months. It is important only to take these medications as instructed by your doctor, and do not stop taking them without speaking with your doctor first.
Medical stimulants can also be used to treat narcolepsy. These drugs may worsen the symptoms but improve the patient's quality of life. Some of these are special formulations that do not contain caffeine. This means the individual may be able to take them to work or school but should not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking them.
Another option is trans life support, a type of medical device prescribed for narcolepsy patients who cannot take the medications on their own. This allows the patient to program their sleep-wake cycles, which exposes them to more daily stimulants. This has all the benefits of medical stimulants but does not have side effects.
Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects many people worldwide. It can cause more severe symptoms, such as cataplexy and Sleep Paralysis, in individuals who are younger than 40 years old. Many people with narcolepsy do not know they have the condition until it does not respond to medications or regular treatment options. In this case, doctors need to work with expert professionals such as sleep physicians and psychologists to find the best treatment option for these individuals.
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