![]() ![]() Most of the severe symptoms of narcolepsy are treated with medications. However, we can treat the severe symptoms, so you’re able to live a fairly comfortable and normal life. There is currently no cure for narcolepsy. The MSLT consists of four to five short naps every two hours. ![]() The MSLT is done throughout the day to measure your ability to fall asleep and determine if elements of REM sleep occur during your waking hours. The most common test used to diagnose narcolepsy is the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). However, because many of the symptoms of narcolepsy are not exclusive to the sleep disorder, we will also need to perform a series of specialized tests in our sleep lab, before we can make an accurate diagnosis. Narcoleptics are also more likely to act out their dreams while sleeping by flailing their arms, kicking, screaming, and more.Īt Emerald Sleep Disorders Center, we will take a comprehensive assessment of your medical history and perform a physical exam to properly diagnose your narcolepsy. It’s not uncommon for people with narcolepsy to have other sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or even insomnia. Like sleep paralysis, hallucinations can be frightening and vivid. ![]() Hallucinations called hypnagogic hallucinations are more common in patients with narcolepsy. The brain activity that occurs during sleep paralysis typically happens during rapid eye movement (REM) levels of sleep, which is the level of sleep when dreaming occurs. However, while they are occurring, they can be incredibly frightening. Episodes of sleep paralysis typically only last for a few seconds or minutes. Patients with narcolepsy are more likely to experience sleep paralysis, a condition where they are temporarily unable to speak or move when they’re in a state of waking or falling asleep. Some patients with narcolepsy experience cataplexy often, while others might not experience it at all. It’s not uncommon for patients with cataplexy to experience sudden buckling of the knees or uncontrollable head drooping when laughing. In narcolepsy with cataplexy, patients will experience a loss of muscle tone triggered by intense emotions, like laughter, excitement, fear, or anger. This is the most debilitating symptom associated with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy also causes the sufferer to experience decreased alertness throughout the day. It’s not uncommon for people with narcolepsy to fall asleep in the middle of conversations or even half an hour after waking up. When narcolepsy progresses, people with narcolepsy will randomly fall asleep anywhere at anytime. ![]() One of the first symptoms of narcolepsy is feeling tired during the day. The most common symptoms of narcolepsy include: People suffering from narcolepsy might experience a range of symptoms. However, the exact cause of the loss of hypocretin in the brain is unknown. When cataplexy occurs during the day, it leads to a loss of muscle tone, causing weakness in the arms, legs, and trunk, as well as slack jaw. In some cases of narcolepsy, patients might also experience cataplexy.Ĭataplexy is the cause of muscle paralysis during deep REM sleep cycles. People with narcolepsy often have lower levels of a neurotransmitter called “hypocretin.” Hypocretin is one of the chemicals in your brain that helps control wakefulness and REM sleep. The precise cause of narcolepsy is not known. Characteristics in REM sleep, like cataplexy, can occur during wake or sleep. This can occur at night or during the day. In narcolepsy cases, you might enter REM sleep without experiencing NREM first. About an hour into the NREM phase, your brain activity changes, and REM sleep occurs, during which time most of your dreaming will take place. In normal sleep patterns, the process for falling asleep begins with a process called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. The Difference Between Narcolepsy & Normal Sleep Patterns If you think you might have narcolepsy, Emerald Sleep Disorders Center can help you get back to living a healthy and energetic life. About one in 2,000 people have a form of narcolepsy however, the majority of people with narcolepsy don’t realize they have it¹. Narcoleptic episodes can strike at any time, and when they hit you while operating a vehicle, eating, walking, or talking, it can be lethal. Narcolepsy can negatively affect almost every facet of your life and can be an incredibly dangerous sleep disorder. Are you having a hard time staying awake during the day? Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that is characterized by excessive drowsiness during the daytime, as well as uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep. ![]()
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