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Narcolepsy is one of the most serious sleep disorders, and if you do suffer from it, you have probably noticed that there is something really off about your sleeping patterns and the quality of the sleep that you are getting.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder which affects the part of the brain which controls sleep and wakefulness. If you suffer from narcolepsy, you have probably experienced excessive daytime sleepiness and may find that you fall asleep during the day.
There are stages of sleep and the deepest one is known as REM sleep. For most people, REM is only achieved after they have been sleeping for a while and have gone through the other stages. For those suffering from Narcolepsy, REM sleep can occur frequently throughout the night and also multiple times throughout the day.
Narcolepsy can really have a negative effect on your health and well-being, so it is important that if you do suffer from it, you get it diagnosed and treated properly. Narcolepsy most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 15 and 25, but it can occur at any age.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about Narcolepsy so that if you do suffer from it, you can get it properly taken care of.
What Causes Narcolepsy?
It is unknown exactly what causes narcolepsy, however scientists have made progress in identifying potential causes. There are genes that are now widely believed to be the major cause of narcolepsy in most people that suffer from it. There is also a theory that narcolepsy is caused by a deficiency in the production of a brain chemical called hypocretin.
What Are The Symptoms Of Narcolepsy?
It is important that if you do suffer from narcolepsy, you get it properly diagnosed by a doctor so that it can be treated. You should see a doctor if you suffer from any of the following symptoms, as they are all possible signs that you are suffering from this sleep disorder.
The first symptom associated with narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness. If you find that you are sleepy during the day for no apparent reason on a regular basis, or that you often fall asleep randomly during the day, this could be a sign that you suffer from narcolepsy.
Sudden loss of muscle tone is another symptom of narcolepsy. This can cause you to feel weak, give you loss of voluntary muscle control, cause your speech to become slurred, or cause you to collapse depending on the muscles that are being affected. Hallucinations are another possible symptom of this disorder. If you suffer from sleep paralysis, this is another sign that you could potentially be suffering from this sleep disorder.
How Is Narcolepsy Diagnosed?
If you have experienced any of the previously mentioned symptoms, you should see your doctor so that you can determine if you are suffering from narcolepsy or whether the symptoms are being caused by some other medical issue. There are a couple of different ways that narcolepsy can be diagnosed.
The first step towards diagnosing narcolepsy is to give your doctor a detailed physical exam and extensive medical history. Once you have done this, there are countless tests that can be done in order to confirm the diagnosis. These tests generally need to be done in a sleep disorder clinic.
Two tests which are considered essential in confirming a diagnosis are a polysomnogram and a multiple sleep latency test. Once you have undergone this extensive testing, if it is determined that you do have narcolepsy, you can move on to treating this disorder.
How Is Narcolepsy Treated?
You may be wondering how you can deal with this condition so that you can start sleeping normally and return to your regular life. There is no known cure for narcolepsy, however, there are some lifestyle adjustments that you can make and some medications that you can take which can reduce the effect of this disorder on your life and help you to deal with the sleep disorder.
The most common medication that your doctor will likely recommend to you if you suffer from narcolepsy is a stimulant. These products stimulate the central nervous system and can help you to stay awake during the day if you suffer from narcolepsy.
One important lifestyle adjustment that you should ensure that you make if you suffer from narcolepsy is to avoid any over the counter medication that lists drowsiness as a possible side effect, as this can worsen the sleepiness for people who suffer from this condition during the day.
(Lasted Updated 7 July 2013)
Useful References
1. WedMD (Accessed 7 July 2013)
2. MayoClinic (Accessed 7 July 2013)
3. Sleep Foundation (Accessed 7 July 2013)
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