Fascinating Things About Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder marked byconstant drowsiness or a constant need to sleep during the day.People also experience sudden sleep attacks or fall asleep without warning. Narcolepsy sufferers often struggle to stay awake for long periods and have a sporadic sleep-wake schedule unlike others. A person with narcolepsy needs a different routine than the average person and may simplyneed to sleep at various times during the day.no matter what surrounds them.

An Oxford physician named Thomas Willis discovered the condition in the 1600s.Thomas Willis.Willis did not name or fully grasp the cause. He did note some people were always sleepy or needed irregular sleep patterns. Later, in 1880, a French doctor named Gélineau called it a medical disorder, naming it "narcolepsie." This word roughly means "sleep attack," a term still sometimes used for narcoleptics today.

Most people know the basics of narcolepsy, but few know there aretwo distinct types of the disorder.Type 1 narcolepsy, formerly narcolepsy with cataplexy, occurs when a person has low hypocretin levels in their brain.Hypocretin is a neuropeptide.that controls the body's wakefulness, appetite, and arousal. These individuals also experience sudden muscle loss due to low hypocretin, causing them to fall to the ground or slump in their seat. This is the most common type of narcolepsy.

The other type,Type 2 narcolepsy,happens when people feel constant daytime sleepiness but lack the muscle weakness that causes them to collapse or lose control. This type is less severe, and those with it have normal hypocretin levels. It is also often linked to a brain injury that messes with sleep regulation. Type 2 narcolepsy side effects can include worse neurological problems. Both types are neurological disorders, and both levels cause serious life disruptions.

Media portrayals of narcolepsy have fueled many myths about how it works. People oftenshow narcolepsy as a harmless, annoying disorder.almost like a silly personality quirk. In reality, it can seriously damage a person's life. Another big myth is that narcoleptics just fall asleep without warning. While people with narcolepsy have sleep attacks, they always get some warning.they always get some warning.and most narcoleptics do not suffer from uncontrolled, sudden sleeping.

The real difference between myth and reality is that narcoleptics do not sleep all the time.Narcoleptics sleep about the same amount as everyone else.Their sleep/wake schedule breaks into smaller parts, differing from the average person's pattern. Napping a lot and feeling sleepy at work does not make someone a narcoleptic; this is a disorder requiring serious attention.

Another common myth is that this condition is rare. Though not as common as being left-handed, it happens much more often than people believe. Symptoms start in childhood or adolescence, and doctors usually diagnose narcolepsy between age seven and twenty-five. Men and women experience it roughly equally, and it occurs globally. In the United States alone, an estimate suggests 135,000 to 200,000 people live with narcolepsy.135,000 to 200,000 individuals live with narcolepsy.This means about one in every two thousand people has the disorder.

The bad news isthis disorder often goes undiagnosed or gets misdiagnosed.Symptoms get mistaken for other problems, like seizures. The number of people with this disease might be much higher.

So, why does narcolepsy happen and how does it affect people? Simply put, it involves your brain. This does not mean you are imagining things! This disorder haseverything to do with brain chemistry..

People withNarcolepsy Type 1Their brain often has problems with a lack of hypocretin, a chemical that promotes wakefulness, and regulating REM sleep.For Type 2,those levels may be normal, but the part of the brain controlling sleep might malfunction or be damaged.

We still do not fully understand how narcolepsy occurs, butwe know some causes.Autoimmune disorders can cause a loss of hypocretin, perhaps because the body attacks the brain cells that make and produce the hormone. Clusters of narcolepsy sometimes appear in families, suggesting a genetic link. A brain injury causing damage to functions that support REM sleep and sleep/wake cycles is another possible cause. This happens rarely, but it has occurred.

What does having narcolepsy feel like? Every narcolepsy case is slightly different; no two people experience it the same way. One person has severe symptoms while another experiences very little. Assuming you have a typical case, we can picture what happens.

All individuals with narcolepsy experience some form ofexcessive daytime sleepinessor EDS. This symptom means you feel constantly sleepy while awake, no matter how much you sleep day or night. Sometimes, this sleepiness hits all at once in an "attack." These attacksdoes not lack warningNarcolepsy attacks feel overwhelming; they stop you once they begin. When attacks stop, people with narcolepsy appear normal, alert, and focused. During sleepiness attacks, focusing or functioning becomes hard.

Type 1 narcolepsy affects more than just wakefulness. People with this type also have cataplexy, which is asudden loss of muscle control.This occurs when they laugh or a sleep attack starts. Usually, body paralysis happens during sleep in REM sleep, so it is not an issue. However, this happens while awake, leading to serious results.

Imagine a Type 1 narcolepsy person having this attack while driving or doing physical activity. This person couldget easily hurt or worse.Cataplexy stresses the body generally, causing muscle tone loss and general aches, even if a narcoleptic is not in immediate physical danger.

During sleep, it is not always enjoyable. Many narcolepsy people experience an uncontrollable inability to move or speak upon waking or falling asleep.This condition is called sleep paralysis.It might last seconds or minutes, and it can be very scary.

Even scarier, waking up or falling asleep may bring vivid, even evil-looking hallucinations. These look like an animal on your chest or a dark spirit watching you. This happens without sleep paralysis, but usually, it accompanies the inability to move or speak. Mostly, the hallucinations are sights, but sometimes you hear, smell, or feel things too.

People think narcoleptics get long, good sleep, but this is often untrue. Narcolepsy people often experience persistent and troubling insomnia becausea narcoleptic's sleep schedule is so broken up.Their sleep-wake cycle is fragmented. This means they might not stay asleep even if they fall asleep, waking up repeatedly during the night. This can bring vivid, startling dreams, sleep apnea, lashing out while dreaming, and more.

Even with a full night's sleep, it may feel like you are not rested. This happens becausesleep quality for narcoleptics is often very poor.This causes more sleep attacks during waking hours and makes daily functioning difficult.

Besides getting hurt from cataplexy, narcolepsy causes other health issues. A poor sleep-wake schedulecan weaken the immune system.Narcolepsy makes you more susceptible to illness. Narcolepsy also links to obesity. People with this condition often become overweight because of medication side effects, inactivity, binge eating, and other things.Even lacking hypocretin can cause obesity.Narcolepsy seriously impacts your health.

Misconceptions about narcolepsy hurt those suffering. Employers, coworkers, and teachers might think you are lazy or avoiding work. Partners may not grasp why you struggle to focus or fear cataplexy. Education on how the disorder works resolves these problems.

Narcolepsy does not end a life or career. Most people with it find ways to function daily. Some achieve greatness.Famous historical figures.Harriet Tubman and Thomas Edison both suffered from narcolepsy. Winston Churchill, despite his busy schedule, struggled to keep a consistent sleep-wake cycle.

Current celebrities and public figures have narcolepsy. Lenny Bruce, Nicole Jeray, and Arthur Lowe were all diagnosed. Jimmy Kimmel often struggles with it and speaks openly about it, though he finds humor in it.

Several celebrities have narcolepsy. Regular people with the condition lead normal lives.

Research on narcolepsy continues today, but no cure exists yet. Fortunately,Treatments are available.Many treatments have proven effective., many of which have proven quite effective.

To fight EDS, people can take stimulants, and for abnormal REM sleep, they can use antidepressants. Xyrem, a drug, helps with insomnia, letting sufferers focus and function with fewer daytime sleep attacks.

If all else fails, individuals can change lifestyles. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other common stimulants and depressants. Schedule specific nap times for a more regular sleep-wake cycle. Regular exercise and meal schedules help some cases. More research is needed, and it is happening. As we learn more, many narcolepsy myths can end.