Narcolepsy - Symptoms and Causes

Narcolepsy - Symptoms and Causes

If you or someone you know constantly feels tired during the day, and without notice, may even fall asleep right in the middle of doing everyday tasks such as cooking or typing, these symptoms could be an indication of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a frequently misdiagnosed sleep disorder. While others might attribute the symptoms as resulting from laziness or poor sleeping habits, to the affected individual, the symptoms are very real, they’re uncontrollable, and they can be very frightening.

The symptoms of narcolepsy rarely begin after a person reaches age 40. Most often (but not always), they begin appearing between ages 10 and 25.

The primary symptom of narcolepsy is persistent daytime tiredness that does not subside no matter how much sleep the affected individual gets. The constant tired feeling makes concentration difficult and can keep an individual from functioning as needed. This in itself is a problem, however those who experience another symptom of narcolepsy – the propensity to suddenly fall asleep - compounds the situation.

What makes falling asleep so serious is that it happens without warning, which means the affected individual has no time in advance to prepare for sleep. In other words, getting to a safe place to lie down isn’t an option. It’s not bad if the sleep attack occurs while Read more

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy - Diagnosis and Treatment

Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects many people in many different ways. Those with this condition are frequently tired during the day, and they sometimes suddenly fall asleep right in the midst of performing everyday tasks. The previous section discussed the symptoms of narcolepsy and its suspected causes. This section continues with a discussion of how narcolepsy is diagnosed and treatment options.

When constant daytime sleepiness is the problem, and other conditions such as depression, insufficient sleep, fainting and a disorder that causes seizures have been ruled out, narcolepsy is generally suspected, especially if the sleepiness is accompanied by cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone).

Responses to specific sleep-related questions helps narrow down the diagnosis as can spending time at Read more