What is it?
Narcolepsy is when a person feels very sleepy during the day and falls asleep (not on purpose) during normal activities. This disorder effects 1 out of every 2000 people. It can affect men and women, gender doesn’t seem to make a difference. Symptoms can start to show in childhood.
Narcolepsy can be dangerous. If you have this condition you should be very careful when and if you drive.
People with narcolepsy can:
Fall asleep in the middle of activities.
Have dream like hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up.
Have disrupted nighttime sleep.
Have vivid nightmares.
Cataplexy is a type of narcolepsy that is caused by a chemical malfunction in the brain. If your hypothalamus is damaged it will not release hypocretin. Hypocretin is a brain chemical that keeps us awake and regulates our sleep cycle.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for narcolepsy, but with medication and behavioral modifications you can live a normal life.
If you think you may have narcolepsy:
Get diagnosed from a doctor. This will include a physical exam, a medical history and most likely a sleep study. Joining a support group, even online can help you manage your condition.
Falling Asleep at Inappropriate Times? Maybe you have Narcolepsy! #HealthStatus
Key Points
- 1Narcolepsy is not understood by the general public.
- 2It is important to get a proper diagnosis and join a support group.
- 3Narcolepsy is more common than you think. 1 out of 2000 people.
In narcolepsy, the normal boundary between awake and asleep is blurred, so characteristics of sleeping can occur while a person is awake.
See the full article at:Â Â https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/narcolepsy-and-sleep
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