Narcolepsy is a long-term brain problem that makes it hard for the brain to control when you sleep and wake up. It can make your daily life very difficult and leave you tired, sleepy, and unable to concentrate. Narcolepsy isn’t very common, but it’s often misunderstood and wrongly identified, which can make treatment take longer and make symptoms worse. The first step to better quality of life is to learn about the condition, its symptoms, and the different ways it can be treated.
Just what is narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is marked by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and, in many cases, sudden muscle weakness caused by strong feelings, which is called cataplexy. It is a disease that lasts a lifetime and usually starts between the ages of 10 and 18. Even though it can’t be cured, good control and treatment can make it much less of a problem in your life.
Many kinds of narcolepsy
Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1): This includes being too sleepy during the day, cataplexy, and sleep periods that don’t work right. It is often linked to low amounts of hypocretin, a brain chemical that controls when you are awake.
Type 2 narcolepsy (NT2): People with this type are too sleepy during the day, but they don’t have cataplexy. The amount of hypocretin in NT2 is usually fine.
How to Tell If Someone Has Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy symptoms can be mild to serious, and they usually get worse if you don’t get help. These are the most common signs:
Being too sleepy during the day (EDS):
No matter how much sleep you get at night, feeling sleepy during the day.
A strong desire to sleep that makes it hard to do daily tasks like work, school, and other obligations.
The cataplexy:
Loss of muscle tone that happens quickly and only for a short time when you are feeling strong emotions like laughter, anger, or surprise.
Each episode can be very weak (like drooping eyes) or very weak all over.
Paralysis from sleep:
A short-term inability to speak or move when you are going asleep or waking up.
Episodes can be scary and last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Fake or real visions:
Having vivid, dream-like events before or after going to sleep (hypnagogic) or waking up (hypnopompic).
These disturbances can be heard, seen, or felt.
Trouble sleeping at night:
Getting up a lot at night even though they feel very sleepy during the day.
What makes narcolepsy happen?
No one knows for sure what causes narcolepsy, but it is thought to have something to do with the loss of neurones in the brain that make hypocretin. Some things that might have something to do with this are:
Autoimmune Response: The immune system strikes the neurones that make hypocretin by mistake.
Genetics: Some genetic factors may make it more likely that someone will develop narcolepsy.
Brain Injuries or Tumours: Narcolepsy can be caused by damage to parts of the brain that control sleep.
Environmental Triggers: For people who are susceptible, infections, worry, and other environmental factors may bring on symptoms.
Findings
Often, a combination of tests and a clinical review is needed to diagnose narcolepsy. If you think you might have narcolepsy, a sleep expert can help you be sure. Common steps in diagnosing include:
Sleep Study (Polysomnography): This is an overnight test that checks how the brain, breathing, and muscles move while the person sleeps.
The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) checks to see if you enter REM sleep and how fast you fall asleep during the day.
How to Measure Hypocretin Levels: To measure hypocretin levels in cerebrospinal fluid, a lumbar puncture (also called a “spinal tap”) can be done.
Different Ways to Treat Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy can’t be cured, but there are a number of treatments that can help control symptoms and make daily life better:
Medicines:
Stimulants: Medicines like Artvigil 150mg which contains armodafinil and Buy Modalert 200 which contains Modafinil can help people who are too sleepy during the day.
Sodium Oxybate is often used to help people sleep better at night and calm down from cataplexy.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are types of antidepressants that can help manage cataplexy and sleep paralysis.
Changes to your lifestyle:
To keep your sleep-wake cycle in check, stick to a regular sleep routine.
Plan short naps during the day to avoid feeling sleepy during the day.
Stay away from alcohol, coffee, and big meals, especially right before bed.
Regular exercise can help you feel more energised all around.
Good habits for sleeping:
Set up a relaxing routine for going to bed.
For better sleep, make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cosy.
Help and education:
To meet other people who have narcolepsy, join support groups or online sites.
Tell your family, friends, and coworkers about the situation so they can understand and help.
Getting by with narcolepsy
Narcolepsy can be hard to deal with, but if you do it right, you can live a full and useful life. If you have symptoms, don’t ignore them. Instead, see a doctor and talk about your choices. It can make a big difference if you get diagnosed and treated quickly.
Last Thoughts
Don’t you sleep well at night? You’re not by yourself. You can take steps towards better sleep and a higher quality of life by learning about the signs, reasons, and treatments. If you think you might have narcolepsy, you should talk to a doctor or nurse to get the help and treatment you need.
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