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Many people feel tired during the long workday or after a poor night’s sleep. For those with narcolepsy, though, drowsiness is an intense and pervasive condition. No matter how much a person with severe narcolepsy sleeps at night, the day may be riddled with uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep. These sudden attacks can occur at any time, including while walking, working, or even driving. 

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that lasts for a lifetime. For most people, rapid eye movement sleep (REM), which is characterized by intense dreams and muscle paralysis, happens sometime around 90 minutes of sleeping. For people with narcolepsy, REM occurs almost immediately after falling asleep, which means they plunge into a deep, immobile sleep almost instantly. 

narcolepsyAn estimated one in 2,000 people suffer from narcolepsy, although many instances go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. For those who have narcolepsy with cataplexy—which is an attack involving sudden muscle tone loss—activities like operating a car may be unsafe or even illegal in some states. Those who have narcolepsy without cataplexy may feel excessively tired all day, but do not suffer from this type of muscle loss. These people often have low levels of hypocretin, which is the chemical in the body that affects appetite, arousal, and wakefulness.

In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness and muscle tone loss, those with narcolepsy may experience sleep paralysis, vivid hallucinations, disturbed nighttime sleep, and memory problems. These symptoms typically manifest between ages 15 and 25.

While there is no known cure for narcolepsy, there are medications and other treatments that can help mitigate its symptoms. Many doctors recommend that people with this sleep disorder take short naps throughout the day to feel refreshed—although they may begin to feel tired again within just a few hours. Regular exercise can also help boost energy. A physician may prescribe a stimulant like Ritalin to increase alertness or an antidepressant like sodium oxybate to curb symptoms like sleep paralysis and hallucinations. Researchers are working on finding additional treatments for those with narcolepsy, but scientists still have much to discover about the causes and origins of this condition. 

If you suffer from narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, or another sleep problem, visit Glacier Headache & Sleep Medicine in Kalispell, MT. Learn more about how these sleep experts can help you by calling (406) 752-1729 or visiting the website.

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