![]() ![]() You may take a nap for a couple of hours and wake up feeling refreshed. This type of narcolepsy occurs when you have excessive daytime sleepiness but no cataplexy. A patient with low hypocretin has narcolepsy type 1, even if they don’t exhibit cataplexy. Hypocretin is a chemical that regulates arousal, wakefulness and appetite. Narcolepsy type 1 is caused by a deficiency of the neurotransmitter hypocretin (orexin). Low or absent CSF hypocretin-1 levels.These events are usually triggered by strong emotions such as joy, surprise, laughter or anger. It may lead to slurred speech and buckling knees, or in more severe cases complete paralysis. Sudden loss of muscle tone or episodes of muscle weakness while you are awake are known as cataplexy.This type of narcolepsy involves a combination of excessive daytime sleepiness and one or both of the following: There are two types of narcolepsy: Narcolepsy type 1 Medical conditions, mental health disorders, and use of certain medications or substances can also cause symptoms similar to narcolepsy These include sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, and restless legs syndrome. Other sleep disorders that cause daytime sleepiness are often mistaken for narcolepsy. Some people think because they are consistently tired during the day that they may have narcolepsy. This is especially true when you consider that many people with narcolepsy often have difficulty sleeping through the night because of unwanted awakenings. When you add up the hours of total sleep time, people with narcolepsy don’t necessarily sleep any more than people who don’t have narcolepsy. Narcolepsy may run in some families, but most cases are not genetic. The average delay in diagnosis is 8 to 10 years. Pediatric onset is common, as is a delay in diagnosing the disorder. However, it is thought that about 50% of patients with narcolepsy may be undiagnosed and therefore the prevalence may be underestimated. About one in 2,000 people have some form of narcolepsy. Many people with narcolepsy do not know they have the sleep disorder. Operating a vehicle with untreated narcolepsy can be dangerous – make sure to check your state driving laws. Learning to manage narcolepsy symptoms is important as it can interfere with daily activities including eating, walking, and/or driving. Narcolepsy can impact nearly every aspect of your life. Individuals with narcolepsy feel overwhelmingly tired, and in some cases, can have sudden episodes of muscle weakness (cataplexy). Narcolepsy is a lifelong neurologic disorder that is characterized by the inability to control normal sleep wake cycles. Morse, DO and Andrea Matsumura, MD What is narcolepsy? Resources for Health Care ProfessionalsĪugust 2020 | Reviewed by : Anne M. ![]()
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