2. ⢠What is narcolepsy?
⢠How is narcolepsy diagnosed?
⢠The causes of narcolepsy
⢠The epidemiology of narcolepsy
⢠Narcolepsyâs symptoms
⢠Narcolepsy's treatments
⢠Some risk factors of being narcoleptic
3. What is narcolepsy?
⢠Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that causes drowsiness
and frequent nap attacks during the day.
⢠It is NOT related to depression, seizure disorders, fainting, or
simple lack of sleep.
⢠The name narcolepsy comes from the French word
narcolepsie, which is a combination of the Greek word narkÄ
(ânumbnessâ) and leptos (âseizureâ).
5. What can cause narcolepsy?
⢠Narcolepsy is NOT a mental
illness. It is a nervous system
disorder.
⢠Evidence suggests that narcolepsy
may run in families.
⢠Scientists believe that narcolepsy
is caused by a decrease in the
amount of hypocretin.
⢠Hypocretin, also known as orexin,
is involved in controlling appetite
and sleep patterns.
6. What is the major symptom?
⢠The major symptom is excessive
daytime sleepiness.
⢠Sleep attacks occur with little warning
and may often occur at inappropriate
times and paces.
⢠These naps are physically irresistible
and take place several times per day,
usually lasting for about 15 minutes
each (can be longer).
7. What are the other symptoms?
Cataplexy
⢠The person suddenly loses
muscle function while
awake and cannot move.
⢠It can be a result of strong
emotions, such as laughter
or anger. Sleep paralysis
⢠The attacks can last from a ⢠The person temporarily
few seconds to several loses the ability to talk or
minutes. move when he or she wakes
up or first becomes drowsy.
8. Automatic behavior
⢠A person continues to
function, such as talking and
putting objects in different
places, during sleep, but he
or she does not recall doing
such activities after
Hypnagogic hallucinations awakening.
⢠These are vivid, dreamlike
experiences that take place
when a person is sleeping,
falling asleep, or awakening.
⢠The hallucinations involve
seeing or hearing.
9. How many people are diagnosed
with narcolepsy?
⢠Experts estimate that around
3 million people worldwide
have narcolepsy.
⢠In the United States, it is
estimated that there are
around 200,000 people
affected by the disorder, but
not even a quarter of them ⢠The usual onset of
are diagnosed. narcolepsy is in
⢠The prevalence is about 1 per adolescence and young
2,000 people. adulthood.
10. How does one get diagnosed with
narcolepsy?
⢠Two tests are commonly used to diagnose nacolepsy.
⢠One is the polysomnogram, which involves continuous
recording of brain waves and nerve and muscle functions
during sleep at night.
⢠Another is the multiple sleep latency test, or MSLT, which
involves observations made of the time taken for a person to
reach the different stages of sleep.
11. How does one get
treated?
⢠There is no known cure for narcolepsy.
There are only ways to control the
symptoms.
⢠Modafinil, a stimulant drug, is a popular
medicine for treating narcolepsy because it
is less likely to be abused than other
stimulants.
⢠Antidepressant drugs can reduce
cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and
hallucinations.
⢠Some patients also take sodium oxybate at
night.
12. What are some lifestyle adjustments
that can help cope with narcolepsy?
⢠Eating light meals during the day
⢠Avoiding heavy meals before
important events
⢠Napping after meals
⢠Planning naps ahead
⢠Informing teachers and
employers about the disorder
13. What are some possible complications
in daily life?
⢠May endanger life if sleep attacks occur while driving,
operating machinery, etc.
⢠Impairment of functioning at work
⢠Impairment of social activities
⢠Side effects of medicines used to treat the disorder