![]() ![]() The treatment for narcolepsy focuses on lifestyle changes and medication to improve alertness. Overnight sleep study (polysomnography).Multiple sleep latency test (a machine that measures the time it takes to fall asleep lying in a quiet room during the day).There, you may have blood tests or other exams to rule out conditions that cause similar symptoms. If the symptoms described indicate a possible sleep disorder, your physician may refer you to a sleep specialist at an accredited sleep center. Narcolepsy DiagnosisĪ diagnosis of narcolepsy often relies on the patient’s description of symptoms. Due to the excessive sleepiness, narcoleptics may fall asleep in very dangerous situations, such as while driving. Narcolepsy itself is not life threatening however patients with the condition are at a high risk for accidents. Narcolepsy affects more than 500,000 Americans and symptoms may arise as early as the onset of puberty and continue throughout life. A child with a parent having narcolepsy has 1 chance in 20 of being affected. Recently scientists have identified a genetic marker for this disease confirming that narcolepsy may be hereditary. The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown. In PLMD, the leg muscles contract every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep. Many people with narcolepsy experience periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). Disrupted major sleep episode (disruption of the longest sleep episode that occurs on a daily basis). ![]() Automatic behaviors (like driving home and not remembering how you got there), often called microsleep episodes.Dreamlike states between waking and sleeping (hypnagogic hallucinations).Sleep paralysis (atonia) that usually occurs between wakefulness and sleep.Temporary and sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy) usually brought on by strong emotions.Excessive daytime sleepiness, with frequent daily sleep attacks or a need to take several naps during the day.Cataplexy is a temporary and sudden muscle weakness usually brought on by strong emotions. Yet others may experience severe sleepiness or severe cataplexy (daily). Others may have moderate sleepiness or infrequent cataplexy (less than daily). Some with this disorder may have mild sleepiness or rare cataplexy (less than once per week). Primary means the condition is not caused by another disease. It is considered a primary hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness) condition. Narcolepsy is a lifelong neurological illness, primarily characterized by sudden uncontrollable sleep attacks and persistent daytime sleepiness. ![]()
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