Narcolepsy Symptoms Causes and Treatments

Narcolepsy symptoms

There are many people suffering from narcolepsy nowadays but not many of them know this fact. Narcolepsy can cause severe outcome to your life. In this post, you will find all things you need to know about narcolepsy symptoms. What is it, what are the causes, the symptoms and how is narcolepsy treated.

Narcolepsy symptoms definitions:

Wikipedia:

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in which a person experiences extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as while at work or at school. Narcoleptics usually experience disturbed nocturnal sleep and an abnormal daytime sleep pattern, which is often confused with insomnia. When a narcoleptic falls asleep they generally experience the REM stage of sleep within 10 minutes; whereas most people do not experience REM sleep until after 90 minutes.

Webmd:

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of the day.

As you can see now, narcolepsy symptoms is not a metal illness. It’s a neurological disorder. While people havesleep disorder, other functions of the brain remains normal (However, after a long time, lack of proper sleep can cause problem to the brain functions).

Causes of narcolepsy symptoms

Unfortunately, the causes of narcolepsy symptoms remain unknown after years of research. However, scientist suggested that this sleep disorder is caused by a genetic problem. There is a complex of genes called HLA or Chromosome 6 seems to have strong link to narcolepsy symptoms. These genes control the production of the chemical substances in the brain that may signal the sleep and awake cycles. Some other scientists think that, the HLA genes prevent the brain from producing sufficient amount of a gene called hypocretin, which in turn causes of narcolepsy symptoms.

Narcolepsy Symptoms

There are four main area of narcolepsy symptoms as listed below:

1. Sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis is the condition when the sufferer can’t even talk or move. This narcolepsy symptom is not dangerous but it’s frightening. Sleep paralysis usually lasts from few seconds to several minutes. After that period, everything returns normal.
2. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
People who suffer from narcolepsy symptoms find themselves sleepy in the day time even after a long night of sleep. The sleepiness can come at anytime in the day, even when working, learning… The night sleep is not very well. Night time sleep can be interrupted quite frequently by frequent awakenings. That’s the reason why narcolepsy symptoms is usually confused with insomnia while they are completely different.
3. Cataplexy
Cataplexy is the unique of narcolepsy symptoms. People experience cataplexy when they notice the muscular weakness. Cataplexy can be mild or severe. In mild cases, people usually feel the fatigue, loose of muscle. In severe cases, they can’t even move. Cataplexy usually caused by strong emotion such as surprise, anger, laughter…

4. Hypnagogic hallucinations
Hypnagogic hallucinations are vivid, often frightening, dreamlike experiences that occur while dozing, falling asleep and/or while awakening.

Treatments for Narcolepsy Symptoms

Another bad news for people who suffer from narcolepsy symptoms is currently, there is no effective treatment for this problem. However, while the problem cannot be treated completely, drugs are quite effective in treating narcolepsy’s two significant narcolepsy symptoms: excessive daytime sleep and cataplexy. EDS is treated with amphetamine-like stimulants.
With people experience cataplexy, there is new treatment called Xyrem. This drug effectively help people get a better night time sleep; reduce the sleepiness in the daytime. However, narcolepsy is not completely cured by Xyrem. Using drugs is effective but a lifestyle change is required in order to obtain optimal results. If you are using caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and other stimulants, consider stop using them. Establish a scheduled daytime sleep will bring good results. In addition, researches showed that regular exercises can be a great help, even for normal people. At least, the above treatments will help you to cure.