What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is described as having a persistent drive to sleep. It can also manifest as symptoms of fatigue, depression or lethargy. The estimated overall prevalence of narcolepsy–cataplexy syndrome is 0.6%.
Narcolepsy does not always look “drowsy”. It can present as memory loss, poor concentration, irritability and automatic behaviours, which can have a massive impact on your quality of life, relationships, professional and academic performance.
Key symptoms
Symptoms can look different for each person, overlapping symptoms, but the key ones are
- Excessive daytime sleepiness, leads to sleep attacks that are often irresistible. Difficult to stay awake and alert during the day, even after a full night’s sleep
- Sleep disruption, despite feeling tired all day, you cannot consolidate sleep
- Sleep paralysis, refers to the inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up
- Hypnagogic and hynopompic hallucinations, vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or waking up
- Cataplexy, only occurring in people with narcolepsy type 1, with intense emotions there a brief, sudden and uncontrollable muscle weakness – loss of muscle tone while consciousness is maintained-.
Getting help
If you suspect you have narcolepsy, your doctor may refer to a sleep specialist, who can diagnose it through a sleep study and other investigations.
Whereas there is not a cure, an increasing number of treatment options can help to manage symptoms, including medications that can improve wakefulness and regulate your sleep cycles. In combination with sleep hygiene and additional measures.
Do not suffer this alone, seek help to avoid isolation, loss of confidence, anxiety. It is much better to get an accurate diagnosis sooner.
