2/19/2023 0 Comments Examples of cataplexy![]() You will sleep with sensors attached to different parts of your body that record your brain waves, heartbeat and other aspects of your sleep. He or she will perform a combination of the tests to help determine if you have narcolepsy: In-lab overnight sleep studyĪlso known as a polysomnogram, a sleep study requires you to stay overnight at a sleep center so a physician can observe and measure your sleep. Schedule an appointment with a sleep medicine physician at an AASM Accredited Sleep Disorders Center. A board-certified sleep medicine physician can help make the proper diagnosis. Since narcolepsy is not a common sleep problem, many primary care physicians have difficulty diagnosing the sleep disorder. If you answer yes to any of these questions, there is a chance that you have narcolepsy. Have you felt alert after a brief nap but then the alertness quickly changes to sleepiness? Have you fallen asleep while working, eating or speaking with someone? Have you had the sudden urge to sleep during the day even though you’re getting enough sleep at night? Medical conditions, mental health disorders and use of certain medications or substances can also cause symptoms similar to narcolepsy. These include sleep apnea, circadian rhythm sleep disorders and restless legs syndrome. Other sleep disorders that cause daytime sleepiness are often mistaken for narcolepsy. Some people assume that because they are consistently tired during the day, that they may have narcolepsy. This is especially true when you consider that many people with narcolepsy often have difficulty sleeping through the night because of unwanted awakenings. When you add up the hours of total sleep time, people with narcolepsy don’t necessarily sleep any more than people who don’t have the sleep disorder. But after a short time, you feel tired again. You may take a nap for a couple of hours and wake up feeling refreshed. Narcolepsy without cataplexy – This type of narcolepsy occurs when you have continuous excessive sleepiness but no cataplexy.These events are usually triggered by strong emotions such as joy, surprise, laughter or anger. It may lead to slurred speech and buckling knees, or in more severe cases complete paralysis. Cataplexy is when you have attacks that cause a sudden loss of muscle tone while you are awake. Narcolepsy with cataplexy – This type of narcolepsy involves a combination of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy.The cause of narcolepsy is still unknown, but recent research suggests that many people with narcolepsy with cataplexy have low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin, a chemical that regulates arousal, wakefulness and appetite. The disorder is extremely rare in children. Narcolepsy may run in some families, but most cases are not genetic. About one in 2,000 people have some form of narcolepsy. Many people with narcolepsy do not know they have the sleep disorder. Operating a vehicle with untreated narcolepsy can be very dangerous and some states even have laws against it. It is dangerous because you can have excessive sleepiness or a sleep attack at any time of the day, in the middle of any activity including eating, walking or driving. Narcolepsy can impact nearly every aspect of your life. Narcolepsy is a lifelong sleep disorder that makes you feel overwhelmingly tired, and in severe cases, have sudden uncontrollable sleep attacks.
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