Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects 3 million people worldwide. This sleep disorder is a neurological condition, characterized by excessive sleepiness in the daytime and chronic insomnia at night. One of the classic characteristics of narcolepsy is the effect of falling asleep at an apparently random time.
Narcolepsy generally manifests during late adolescence and early adulthood, occurring in about 1 in 2000 individuals. Usually, the first symptom to appear after having this disorder is excessive daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms may then appear alone or together some time later. Other common symptoms of narcolepsy are sleep paralysis (being conscious but not being able to move as if you were asleep), cataplexy (episodic loss of muscle function or muscular weakness), hypnogogic hallucinations (vivid hallucinations that occur while awake) and chronic insomnia (finding it hard to sleep at night), which may be caused by excess sleep in the day. Narcolepsy involves a disturbance of REM sleep, one of the five stages of sleep. Sufferers have disturbances to them, with REM sleep beginning at the start of sleep instead of NREM sleep.
Narcolepsy can be debilitating for sufferers and unsettling for onlookers. Frustration is natural for many people since little is known about this sleep disorder and much less on how to treat narcolepsy. Narcolepsy can affect a person's social and professional life and often account for embarrassing moments, and making it unsafe to operate on dangerous machinery. While the exact cause of narcolepsy has not yet been discovered, there is scientific evidence to show that certain people are genetically predisposed to getting this sleep disorder.
All hope is not lost. Narcolepsy can be treated to a certain extent with amphetamine like stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and modafinil, which can help fight drowsiness in the daytime. Treatment is adjusted to the individual based on symptoms and therapeutic response, with best control usually only after many months. Total control over symptoms is rarely possible.
While there is no way to cure narcolepsy, one can learn to cope with the symptoms of this sleep disorder. Understanding and patient peers are important, and lifestyle changes are important. A person suffering from narcolepsy should not operate on dangerous machinery. With proper medical care, he can lead a productive life. Helpful tips are to take a few 15 minute naps in the day to combat sleepiness, taking short walks during the day and trying to maintain a routine sleep schedule. Joining a relevant support group can prove beneficial too.
