What Is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy (NAR-ko-lep-see) is a disorder that
causes a person to have difficulty staying awake. Narcolepsy can cause a person
to suddenly fall asleep during the day. These sleep attacks occur
even after getting enough sleep at night. The unusual sleep pattern that people
with narcolepsy have can affect their schooling, work, and social life.
The two main types of sleep are rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During REM sleep, your eyes
move rapidly even though your eyelids stay shut. Dreaming mainly happens during
REM sleep, when your body becomes limp and you are unable to move your muscles.
This temporary inability to move prevents you from acting out any dreams that
you may be having.
Normally, when people fall asleep they first have
NREM sleep. Then they go through a period of REM sleep. People with narcolepsy
have a different sleep pattern. They often fall into REM sleep before NREM
sleep. Also, in people with narcolepsy, the fine line between being asleep and
being awake can be blurred. They often find that certain aspects of REM sleep
can happen while they are awake. This causes them to:
- Suddenly lose muscle tone and control when awake
(cataplexy). This can appear to be muscle weakness and sometimes can trigger
the body to collapse.
- Not be able to move or speak while falling asleep
or waking up (sleep paralysis).
- Have vivid dreams while falling asleep or waking
up (hallucinations).
Effects of Narcolepsy
People with narcolepsy often fall asleep without
warning at inappropriate times. Sleep attacks dont just happen during
quiet times, such as when reading or watching TV. These attacks can occur
during driving, eating, or other activities and can cause:
- Accidents and injuries
- Problems at work or at school
- Social problems
- Impaired memory, thinking, or ability to
concentrate
- Depression
Outlook
There is no cure yet for narcolepsy. This lifelong
condition can be disabling if left untreated. But medicines and lifestyle
changes can improve the symptoms of narcolepsy so that it is easier to live
with.
March 2006
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