Narcolepsy: Understanding the Disorder Behind Sudden Sleep
Written by Aditi Avunuri
Imagine constantly collapsing from needing to sleep, even when getting eight hours of sleep a night. For many with narcolepsy, a brain disorder that disables sleep function, such a picture is reality. Misdiagnosed and oftentimes confused with a variety of symptoms, narcolepsy can complicate life and infuriate with its disruption of life. By becoming a little wiser about the disorder, its obstacles can be tackled, and its impact can be reduced.
Narcolepsy is a long-term neurologic disorder deranging brain sleep and wakefulness. Patients suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep attack, and many more symptoms. Narcolepsy is not a relatively new disease, and familiarity with its symptoms and its therapies can go a long distance in controlling it.
The most important sign of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). It occurs when a person experiences a rapid, overpowering sleep attack, even following a full eight-hour sleep at night. Many become sleepy numerous times a day, and work, school, and social life can suffer immensely. Apart from EDS, narcoleptic individuals can suffer from cataplexy, loss of function of a muscle in reaction to strong emotion, and sleep paralysis, in which one cannot move and speak when entering and waking out of sleep. All these symptoms can become a cause for concern, but none of them can cause death and are not life-threatening.
Narcolepsy is roughly grouped into two types. Type 1 narcolepsy is most common, with cataplexy and low hypocretin (a brain chemical responsible for sleep and wakefulness). Type 2 narcolepsy is less common, with EDS, no cataplexy, and less severe symptoms
The cause of narcolepsy is not yet understood, but environment and gene factors have long been suspected to cause it. Loss of brain cells responsible for producing hypocretin can result in an autoimmune attack, and it can lead to developing this condition. For its diagnosis, tests like the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and polysomnography, track a sleeping person's sleep onset and sleep state.
Although no medical cure for narcolepsy is yet discovered, drugs and therapies can effectively manage its symptoms. It is confirmed that EDS and symptoms of cataplexy can be tackled with energizing drugs and antidepressants. Implementing even simple adaptations, such as taking a quick nap, following a routine sleeping schedule, and exercising, can go a long way in controlling narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy can become a life-long disorder, but by better understanding it, it is very much possible to overcome the challenges posed and continue to live a fulfilling life.
Sources:Â
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/narcolepsy
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcolepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20375497
Written by Aditi Avunuri from MEDILOQUY