Posted on July 31, 2010 in Sleep
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects as many as 250,000 people in the United States per year. This is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by excessive drowsiness during daytime and attacks of sleep. People suffering from this sleep disorder cannot stay awake for a long time which can cause serious disruptions in the daily routine of a patient. This affects the part of the brain that regulates the sleeping and waking mechanism.
Signs and Symptoms of Narcolepsy
Symptoms of narcolepsy may worsen in the initial years and then it may continue for life. They include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Sudden loss of muscle tone
- Slurred speech
- Intense emotions like fear, surprise or anger
- Sleep paralysis where a person may experience temporary inability to move or speak
- Hallucinations
- Automatic behavior where routine tasks like making coffee or getting the paper in the morning are performed without awareness.
- Fragmented night sleep where people suffering from this disorder tend to sleep poorly in the night
Other characteristics
Some people with narcolepsy have some sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea where the breathing starts and stops during the night, restless legs syndrome and insomnia. People may also act in their dreams at night by kicking, screaming or flailing their arms.
Causes of Narcolepsy
The exact cause is not known. Genetics may be one of the factors for this disorder but other causes include:
- Brain chemicals: Hypo-cretin is an important chemical that is needed for the waking and REM sleep mechanism. People suffering from this disorder have low levels of this neurochemical in their spinal cord. This occurs due to an autoimmune reaction.
- Hereditary: If any one parent is suffering from this disorder then there are chances that the child also may suffer from this neurological disorder.
- Environmental factors: Some of the environmental factors including stress, exposure to toxins and infections may contribute to the development of narcolepsy.
When to consult your Medical Health Professional?
Consult your doctor, when you experience excessive day time sleepiness that interrupts your personal or professional life.
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