Narcolepsy

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• QWhat are the different types of narcolepsy?

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  A American Academy of Sleep Medicine answered

  There are two types of narcolepsy.

  • Narcolepsy with cataplexy: This type of narcolepsy involves a combination of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle tone while you are awake. A cataplexy attack may lead to slurred speech and buckling knees. In more severe cases, it can cause complete paralysis. Strong emotions, such as joy, surprise, laughter or anger, usually trigger the cataplexy attacks.
  • Narcolepsy without cataplexy: This type of narcolepsy involves continuous excessive sleepiness but no sudden loss of muscle tone. You may take a nap for a couple of hours and wake up feeling refreshed. However, after a short time, you feel tired again.
• QHow is narcolepsy treated?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  There is no cure for narcolepsy—yet—but you can manage it. For example, you may learn by keeping a journal that you experience cataplexy (sudden muscle tone loss) more often after an emotional moment, or that eating a heavy meal always causes an unplanned nap. Medications may also help.

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• QWhen do symptoms of narcolepsy appear?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  In most cases, symptoms first appear between the ages of 10 and 25 years, but narcolepsy can become clinically apparent at virtually any age. Many patients first experience symptoms between the ages of 35 and 45 years. A smaller number initially manifest the disorder around the ages of 50 to 55 years. Narcolepsy can also develop early in life, probably more frequently than is generally recognized. For example, three-year-old children have been diagnosed with the disorder. However, whatever the age of onset, patients find that the symptoms tend to worsen over the two to three decades after the first symptoms appear. Many older patients find that some daytime symptoms decrease in severity after age 60.
  Narcoleptic symptoms, often prove more severe when the disorder develops early in life rather than during the adult years. Experts have also begun to recognize that narcolepsy sometimes contributes to certain childhood behavioral problems, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and must be addressed before the behavioral problem can be resolved. If left undiagnosed and untreated, narcolepsy can pose special problems for children and adolescents, interfering with their psychological, social, and cognitive development and undermining their ability to succeed at school. For some young people, feelings of low self-esteem due to poor academic performance may persist into adulthood.
  This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
• QWhat happens to people who have narcolepsy?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Narcolepsy is a lifelong illness that can be kept in control for most people. If not treated or kept in control, it can cause danger since episodes may occur while driving, operating machines, or other risky activities. With medications and enough sleep, including naps or rest periods, many people with narcolepsy can stay awake and alert all day. Narcolepsy can also create problems with family and friends and trouble at work. As a result, it may be hard to keep a job and enjoy lasting relationships. For some people with narcolepsy there is an extra burden of dealing with people who falsely believe their symptoms are caused by laziness or lack of will power.

• QWhat can I do to help control my narcolepsy?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  The following are tips to help control narcolepsy:

  • Make sure you get enough sleep at night. Eight hours is right for most people.
  • Have a regular time for getting to sleep and waking up and stick with it seven days a week.
  • It may be very helpful to have rest periods or brief naps during the times of day when sleepiness usually occurs.
  • Since strong emotion may provoke symptoms, learn skills for dealing with strong emotions.
  • Avoid a heavy meal before any important event since a heavy meal may provoke a sleep attack.
  • Get some exercise most days, in the morning or afternoon.
  • Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the late afternoon or evening.
  • Many people benefit from support groups that focus on coping skills and finding community resources.
  • If you think you may have narcolepsy, go to an accredited sleep disorder center so you can be properly diagnosed and get good treatment recommendations.