![]() Symptoms often begin in adolescence or during mid-adulthood, but can start at any time in life, either later on or during childhood. Narcolepsy is often confused with other sleep or psychological disorders, and people often suffer from social stigma (seen as being sluggish or simply lazy, sleep deprived, having memory problems, etc.), which are all factors that can prevent them from getting proper help. However, like most sleep disorders, chances are that it is under- or misdiagnosed because health professionals are not well versed in this disorder and nor is the general public. These brief daytime sleep-like episodes arise while performing an activity, usually something habitual like driving.Ībout one in 2,000 people are affected (0.05% of the population) with no gender difference. Other daytime symptoms are automatic behaviours, meaning that for a few seconds or minutes, an activity is carried out without conscious awareness or memory of it. Other symptoms of narcolepsy, aside from the four mentioned, include poor sleep quality because of interrupted sleep (fragmented sleep). For example, people say that while they were in bed paralyzed, they saw bugs on the wall or heard horrible noises. Hallucinations can occur upon falling asleep (hypnagogic), or upon awakening from sleep (hypnopompic). Moreover, they can experience at the same time very vivid, and often frightening, hallucinations (usually visual) or dreamlike images. People often say that these paralyzing attacks are terrifying. Sleep paralysis resembles cataplexy since it’s the temporary inability to move or speak for a few seconds or minutes while being fully conscious, but occurs at the edge of sleep and without an emotional trigger. Unlike sleepiness attacks and cataplexy, they occur at the transition between wake and sleep, when people are in bed just before falling asleep or at awakening. Worries about “going crazy” are frequent with these kinds of narcolepsy symptoms. Sleep paralysis and hallucinations at sleep onset and/or offset are often the most unsettling symptoms of narcolepsy. Therefore, these symptoms should be addressed and some restrictions may be necessary, such as not driving. ![]() Sometimes, the unpredictable and uncontrollable daytime symptoms of sleepiness attacks and cataplexy can also have hazardous consequences. Strong emotions, often positive ones such as surprise, laughter or excitement, trigger cataplexy. Episodes of cataplexy are usually not dangerous, but they may occur anytime during the day. Sometimes confused with fainting (syncopes) or epileptic seizures, cataplexy episodes are different, as the person remains fully awake and conscious. During a full cataplexy attack, a total body collapse occurs followed by a temporary paralysis. It can also affect the limb muscle tone, hence the risk of falling. It can affect all muscles, or just part of the muscles, for example in the muscles of the face, neck or the one responsible for speech. ![]() Episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes and go away by themselves. It is a sudden loss of muscle tone while being awake. Moreover, people with narcolepsy usually feel rested after waking in the morning, which distinguishes it from another sleep disorder marked by sleepiness, namely hypersomnia.Ĭataplexy is an impressive symptom experienced by all people affected by type one narcolepsy only (not type 2). Aside from sleep attacks, they have a normal level of alertness during the day. People can fall asleep during various day-to-day activities, long enough for it to be frightening. The sleepiness in narcolepsy presents as a “sleep attack,” a need to sleep that is irrepressible. Symptoms do not appear always all at once but can evolve over time.Īll people suffering from narcolepsy have experienced disabling and severe daytime sleepiness. Two types of narcolepsy exist, type one with cataplexy and type 2 without it. ![]()
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