What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a neurological condition characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. Additionally there are several other symptoms that present significant challenges to approximately 50% of all patients who suffer from this disease. Scientists recently have come to understand that these sleep attacks may be caused by a chemical deficiency in the brain. Narcolepsy is the fourth most common sleep disorder, behind sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome. These four sleep disorders affect 40 million people in the United States. Narcolepsy is believed to affect 200,000 individuals in the country, however only 50,000 patients suffering from the condition have been medically diagnosed. Narcolepsy presents many challenges to both patients and those in the medical community; however with a positive approach, lifestyle modifications, and accurate diagnosis this disease can be controlled.
What are the symptoms of Narcolepsy?
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness:
Narcolepsy patients experience uncontrollable urges to fall asleep during the day. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.
Cataplexy:
A sudden loss of muscle control in the body, which is triggered upon any kind of emotion, from laughing to anger. A cataplexy attack can be as mild as a head drop or buckle of the knee. However a severe attack can result in total loss of muscle control, resulting in a collapse to the ground, in which a narcolepsy patient may appear unconscious, however they remain awake and alert. In most cases, this state can last anywhere from thirty to forty-five seconds. However in some cases, this episode may last for several minutes.
Sleep Paralysis:
Inability to move trunks or limbs upon waking from sleep or falling asleep. Many patients have described sleep paralysis as frightening because the person is aware of his or her surroundings, but unable to move.
Hypnagogic Hallucinations:
Vivid dreams that can occur when a person is waking from sleep or has fallen asleep. The hallucinations may involve disturbing images or sounds. The hallucinations are frightening because the person has no control over the sequence of these dreams.
Useful Links:
Stanford Universiity Center for Narcolepsy
Harvard University Division of Sleep Medicine
University of Illinois Center for Narcolepsy, Sleep and Health Research
Recent Developments in Narcolepsy Research – UCLA
Narcolepsy Organizations & Support Groups
American Sleep Apnea Association
The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation
Kate Walsh Narcolepsy Awareness Video