Narcolepsy

48 UNDERSTAND SLEEP SCIENCE

July 8, 2022

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Narcolepsy Definition

Narcolepsy is a severe sleep condition that causes excessive daytime drowsiness and short bouts of sleep. Narcoleptics have trouble staying awake for long periods, regardless of the circumstances. Narcolepsy is a sleep condition characterized by excessive daytime drowsiness and sudden episodes of sleep. Narcolepsy can wreak havoc on your everyday routine.

Cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotion, is sometimes seen in people with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy characterized by Cataplexy is known as type 1 narcolepsy. Type 2 narcolepsy happens without the presence of Cataplexy.

Narcolepsy is an incurable chronic illness. Medication and lifestyle adjustments, though, can aid in managing symptoms. In addition, it’s essential to have support from family, friends, employers, and instructors when dealing with narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy symptoms

The classic symptoms of narcolepsy include

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
Cataplexy – Episodes where a person loses muscle tone, often triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, anger, surprise, or fear.
Hypnagogic hallucinations – Vivid auditory and visual hallucinations occur at sleep onset.

People with narcolepsy also experience fragmented nighttime sleep and an abnormal need for sleep in addition to problems with concentration and memory. Some people develop type 2 diabetes or other metabolic disorders because they get enough restorative sleep. This can lead to a decrease in life expectancy for some individuals because it can cause them to be more susceptible to heart disease and other health problems.

Narcolepsy usually initiates between the ages of 15 and 30. It affects both men and women equally. But symptoms may not be recognized or diagnosed for up to 10 years after they begin. In some cases, narcolepsy is due to another illness rather than an autoimmune reaction against nerve cells in the brain that produce hypocretin (orexin). This form of narcolepsy tends to run in families and can occur with other severe medical conditions such as tumors, AIDS, trauma, and stroke.

Types 1 and 2 narcolepsies are thought to have a genetic basis involving a mutation on chromosome 6 in a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene. Although this disorder has been identified worldwide, it is widespread in Scandinavia.

How To Diagnose Narcolepsy

Diagnosing the condition typically involves an overnight sleep study called a polysomnogram (PSG) and the completion of several questionnaires about one's symptoms. Other tests may be ordered if the PSG findings are inconclusive or suspected of another sleep disorder. A blood test to measure hypocretin (orexin), the neurochemical that regulates sleep, can also help confirm a diagnosis of narcolepsy with Cataplexy.

Treatment depends on the presentation of symptoms and how severely they impact daily life activities. Medications for EDS include psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and wakefulness-promoting agents such as modafinil (Provigil).

Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are used to treat Cataplexy. Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, medications and lifestyle changes can help manage the condition.

Narcolepsy Statistics

It’s unknown how many people have narcolepsy because it may be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. Researchers estimate that about one in 3,000 Americans has narcolepsy with Cataplexy, while some studies suggest a prevalence rate of 0.02% in adults 16-39 years old. Scientists have found a strong association between narcolepsy and specific genetic markers of HLA on chromosome 6.

Types 1 and 2 narcolepsies are thought to have a genetic basis involving a mutation on chromosome 6 in a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene. Although this disorder has been identified throughout the world, it is prevalent in Scandinavia, where some studies show that more than 2% of people carry the marker for type 1 narcolepsy. However, the percentage is much lower (about 0.02%) among African Americans and Japanese groups.

Narcolepsy was initially referred to as a “hard-wired disease” because it’s thought that when something goes wrong with neurons responsible for sleep/wake cycles. Cells involved in an area at the base of the brain known as the hypothalamus – leave sufferers unable to make or process hypocretin (orexin). Today, researchers suspect narcolepsy results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Treatment For Narcolepsy

Treatment depends on the presentation of symptoms and how severely they impact daily life activities. Medications for EDS include psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and wakefulness-promoting agents such as modafinil (Provigil).

Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are used to treat Cataplexy. Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, medications and lifestyle changes can manage the condition. A regular sleep schedule, relaxation therapy, physical exercise, and a healthy diet are also helpful.

What does dreaming immediately after falling asleep mean?

People dream before they enter the stage of deep sleep. It is relatively uncommon for them to have dreams at the beginning of their slumber. Sometimes it may happen if they fall asleep during an exciting activity. However, plans right after you fall asleep are frequently accompanied by fear and anxiety.

Nightmares are vivid and terrible dreams that cause strong emotions, often negative ones like sadness or fright. During nightmares, our heart rate goes up, we breathe faster, and we emit various sounds which confirm that we experience these awful events in real life (screaming, crying, etc.).

If you haven’t had any bad experiences lately, then your subconscious mind probably created this nightmare for some reason. Perhaps you should try to recall recent unpleasant memories? Keep in mind, though, that dreams are usually not about random things. You might be wondering that it is strange to call your latest nightmares unpleasant memories, though.

This is happening during REM sleep, when we dream, our brain releases certain chemicals through the body, which keep us in an excited state. This makes us act out our dreams by shouting or moving around due to muscle twitches caused by chemical changes in the neuron system

It seems that some of us may be more sensitive than others regarding these chemicals, and it’s possible that you can’t tolerate them well. In case many people complain about occasional nightmares, then medical help should also be sought. It may point out a sleep disorder with a problem breathing throughout the night (sleep apnea), or the person may be a sleepwalker. People with this medical condition can harm themselves due to their unusual behavior during sleep, and they should seek medical help immediately.

As for your dreams right after falling asleep, if they occur regularly, it’s best not to ignore them, as in most cases, when we experience unpleasant events in our dreams, something similar might happen in real life. If you have been having nightmares frequently, you need to discover what causes them to avoid these things in the future.

Perhaps if someone hurt you in the past, then your brain tries to protect itself from possible threats? It is also possible to have a vivid imagination that works overtime, especially while sleeping. Whatever the reason is, you need to discuss these dreams with your doctor to help you get rid of the problem.

Dreams are not always good, so if you want to have positive experiences while sleeping, it would be great for you to avoid watching horror movies before going to bed and sticking with good stories. It’s also worth remembering that even though nightmares are annoying, you should never wake up someone who suffers from them without a reason since this may cause severe emotional problems.

Dreams tend to fade away pretty quickly but waking people out of their sleep causes them additional stress, which is not something they need considering how hard it already is for people with narcolepsy to cope with their condition.

If nightmares are accompanied by physical reactions like sweating and fast breathing, it would be best to have a bottle of clean water next to your bed and drink some of it after you wake up. If you don’t feel thirsty, then at least wet your lips as sometimes the air we breathe may be too dry for our brain, which needs moisture to function correctly.

The final advice we can give you is that it’s not worth scaring yourself by watching horror movies before going to sleep because even if the content of these films isn’t accurate. Your subconscious mind might still make you feel frightened thanks to this film experience. You should avoid fiction if you want a good night’s sleep full of pleasant dreams.

If nightmares occur frequently, consulting a doctor will help you discover what causes them and why.

What is it called when you fall asleep randomly?

Falling asleep randomly is called narcolepsy. Again, there are medications, but often they have side effects that may be worse than the symptoms of narcolepsy or insensitive to them.

Is it dangerous to wake up someone who has nightmares?

Some people with narcolepsy have vivid dreams and sometimes move around during their sleep even though they are entirely unaware of their unusual behavior while sleeping. It’s not advisable to wake people with this condition up as it may increase stress levels, significantly affecting their life quality. If you witness a person suffering from nightmares, waking them up without a good reason would cause additional stress, so try avoiding doing so if possible.

Narcolepsy treatment drugs?

There are some narcolepsy treatment drugs, but most of them have side effects that may be worse than the symptoms of this condition. Therefore, doctors do not usually prescribe these medicines to patients with mild sleepiness, especially if they have other significant health issues.

In such cases, it would be ideal for you to focus on your lifestyle and try making changes to upgrade your quality of life as much as possible. For example, avoid drinking caffeinated beverages after 4 pm so you can have a good night’s sleep at night. Also, avoid eating massive meals before going to bed because they may disrupt your sleeping schedule, which will make falling asleep at night even harder than it usually is. It also makes sense for you to start exercising regularly if you don’t do it already, as staying fit will help you sleep better at night.

Is it dangerous to fall asleep during the day?

Falling asleep during the day may be expected for some people, especially if they are studying for an exam, reading a book, or watching their favorite TV show. However, this is not something that can be recommended to everybody because there are several health risks associated with this behavior.

For example, people who spend most of their days sleeping or taking naps tend to have a higher risk of experiencing coronary problems than those who avoid doing so. This applies to people with heart disease and healthy people who may suffer from cardiac arrest because of sudden drowsiness caused by sleep deprivation. If you have some issues falling asleep during the day, try making changes in your daily routine and avoid taking long naps.

What is a narcolepsy test?

A narcolepsy test is an examination that doctors use to determine whether their patients suffer from this condition. If you are diagnosed with narcolepsy, you will be recommended to make some lifestyle changes to improve your quality of life.

Many conditions may cause the same symptoms as narcolepsy. For example, people suffering from depression sometimes have difficulty falling asleep, which causes them to feel sleepy during the day. If you think that this condition affects your life, don’t hesitate to visit a neurologist for further examination.

What are narcolepsy diagnosis criteria?

Narcolepsy diagnosis criteria list symptoms that doctors use to determine whether or not their patients suffer from this condition. The following symptoms may indicate narcolepsy: Excessive daytime sleepiness Insomnia Cataplexy (sudden and temporary loss of muscle tone) Hallucinations during sleep atonia (loss of muscle tone which happens as we fall asleep and wake up).

Is it possible to talk in your sleep?

There is no need for you to panic if you are talking in your sleep, as most individuals do this on occasion. However, some people may also experience night terrors when they wake up screaming because they feel like they will die. If these disturbances happen frequently, it may signify that you suffer from sleepwalking or somniloquy. The latter refers to talking in your sleep and is usually caused by stress and health problems such as depression and narcolepsy.

What is narcolepsy eye drop?

Narcolepsy eye drop is a medicine doctors use to treat the excessive drowsiness associated with this condition. It would help if you tried using them before going to work because they will help you stay awake and avoid sleeping during the day. If you feel like you can’t control your urge to fall asleep during the day, ask your doctor about these medicines and read more information on their official website: www.narcolepsynetwork.org

What are cataplexy hallucinations?

You may experience cataplexy hallucinations while going to sleep or waking up. These are vivid dreams associated with strong emotions such as joy, anger, and fear. If you have a history of mental problems such as bipolar disorder, you will likely suffer from narcolepsy hallucinations.

What is the difference between somniloquy and night terrors?

Somniloquy refers to talking in your sleep, whereas night terrors refer to screaming because you feel like you are about to die. Night terrors usually happen during the non-REM stage of your sleeping cycle, which means that these episodes will not cause any harm or injury, even if they last for several minutes. However, somniloquy is associated with narcolepsy and may cause accidents during the day if not controlled.

How to know if you have low or high blood pressure?

Doctors use measurements such as systolic and diastolic levels to determine whether someone has low or high blood pressure. If your systolic level is above 140 mm Hg, you suffer from hypertension which can be controlled with lifestyle changes.

If your diastolic level is between 90-109 mmHg, this indicates mild hypertension, treated with medication. However, if your diastolic blood pressure is lower than 90mmHg, then you need to visit your doctor for further examination because this condition needs immediate attention.

What is narcolepsy with Cataplexy?

Narcolepsy with Cataplexy is a severe sleep disorder that causes the person to experience episodes of sudden and temporary loss of muscle tone. When this happens, it’s usually triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, excitement, or anger. If you have symptoms of both conditions, they will most likely appear in your mid-teens and severely impact your sleeping patterns during the day.

Some common symptoms include: Excessive daytime sleepiness, Difficulty staying awake while driving, Falling asleep suddenly on various occasions, Cataplexy (sudden temporary loss of muscle tone), Hallucinations during sleep atonia (loss of muscle tone, which happens as we fall asleep and wake up)

What are the causes of Cataplexy?

Cataplexy is usually brought on by sudden strong emotions such as laughter, excitement, or anger. This condition may also be triggered by stress and fatigue, which is why you should try taking short naps in the afternoon when you feel tired. If your symptoms continue even after adopting a healthy lifestyle and getting enough sleep at night, ask your doctor about narcolepsy medication and read more information online.

CONCLUSION

Suppose you want to search out more about narcolepsy treatment, cataplexy treatments. Hallucinations during sleep atonia treatment, low blood pressure treatments, and many other health issues were discussed in this article, then, you can learn more information on this topic by visiting: www.narcolepsynetwork.org Thanks for reading.

Ameer

Ameer is the content director of Sleepingmentor, which means he not only reviews new mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, and mattress toppers every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, reviews pages, and vs pages on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews. He covers sleep science by researching a lot on Google and finding meaningful content which entertains his users.