Narcolepsy is a common sleep disorder that affects the way you sleep and wake up. It causes extreme daytime sleepiness and can lead to serious social and academic problems.
There are two kinds of narcolepsy: type 1 and type 2. The main difference is that people with type 1 diabetes have very low levels of a brain hormone called hypocretin.
Type 1
Narcolepsy is a condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Doctors use several tests to confirm a diagnosis.
Narcolepsy can happen in men or women and affects people of all ages. Symptoms usually begin in childhood or in young adulthood.
Type 1 narcolepsy is caused by damage to the neurons that make a hormone called orexin. It can also be caused by an autoimmune problem in which your immune system attacks the cells that make orexin.
In type 1 narcolepsy, levels of orexin are very low in your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a liquid that surrounds and cushions your brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms of narcolepsy include excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and sleep paralysis. They can affect school, work, and social relationships. They can also lead to psychiatric problems, including depression and anxiety.
Type 2
Narcolepsy is a disorder that affects the way your brain regulates sleep and wakefulness. It causes excessive daytime sleepiness and can make it hard to concentrate in school, work, or social settings.
People with narcolepsy usually go to sleep early and enter the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of their sleep very quickly. This REM sleep can happen within 15 minutes of falling asleep, which is unusual for normal people.
During REM sleep, people have dreams. Your brain keeps muscles limp during this sleep stage, which prevents you from acting out your dreams. Modalert Online can help people who suffer from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), or shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) stay awake during the day.
These dream activities are disrupted or do not occur at all during sleep in some people with narcolepsy. This can explain some symptoms, including slurred speech and sudden loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy.
It’s also possible that narcolepsy can be caused by an autoimmune problem in which your immune system destroys neurons in the parts of your brain that control sleep. These neurons produce a brain protein called hypocretin, which helps control your sleep-wake cycles.
Cataplexy
Cataplexy is one of the most common symptoms among people with narcolepsy, and it may occur several times a day. It typically occurs after a strong emotional trigger, such as laughter or anger, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
In severe cases, cataplexy attacks can cause people to collapse or be unable to move. These episodes can last for a few seconds to minutes, and they can happen without warning.
Narcolepsy with cataplexy is more common in adults, although it can also occur in children. It usually begins around adolescence, and some patients may have their first attack as early as five years old or older.
If you have narcolepsy with cataplexy, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how to manage the condition. Medication can help prevent frequent attacks as well as ones that greatly interfere with your life.
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the most common symptom of narcolepsy. It occurs several times a day and may cause periods of sleepiness that feel irresistible. Waklert Tablet, a stimulant, is used to promote wakefulness and reduce extreme daytime sleepiness.
For many people with narcolepsy, EDS symptoms begin to improve after age 60. However, symptoms remain present in most individuals with the condition and never go away completely.
Occasionally, people with narcolepsy experience sleep attacks. These periods of excessive daytime sleepiness last seconds to minutes and occur without warning, usually in monotonous situations.
They can be triggered by eating, talking to someone, or other activities that require concentration. They are most likely to happen during the day, although some patients experience them at night or in bed.
Narcolepsy can also be dangerous when it causes sleep attacks while driving or performing other activities that may require concentration and attention. In such cases, people with narcolepsy should always avoid driving unless their healthcare provider specifically clears them to do so.