No Comments January 26, 2008 – 3:59 pm

Everyone experiences mild forms of daytime drowsiness from time to time but for people with narcolepsy the drowsiness is profound and can lead to sudden attacks of sleep. People with this condition find it extremely difficult to stay awake for extended periods of time. Because of that, narcolepsy can create major disruptions in a person’s personal and professional life.

The primary and most disruptive symptom related to narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere and at any time. This can be very embarrassing to the point that some people with narcolepsy never want to leave their homes to participate in outside activities. Depending on the severity of symptoms, narcolepsy may affect a person’s ability to obtain or keep a driver’s license.

Narcolepsy does not directly affect one’s intelligence, learning, education or physical ability but the symptoms can impact all areas of life. Study, concentration and attention span can sometimes be impaired by sudden sleep attacks. If a child has narcolepsy it is important that parents talk with school officials to create an environment of understanding.

Some narcoleptics periodically experience cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle tone. The symptoms of cataplexy range from slurred speech to total weakness of muscles throughout the body. An episode of cataplexy can last for a few seconds to a few minutes. Episodes may be triggered by intense emotions like laughter, excitement, fear or anger. Some people with narcolepsy experience only one or two episodes of cataplexy a year, while others may have numerous episodes each day. About 70 percent of people with narcolepsy experience some degree of cataplexy.

Sleep paralysis is another condition that frequently occurs in people with narcolepsy. This condition is a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or when first waking up. While these episodes can be very frightening, they are not considered dangerous.

Narcolepsy is a chronic condition and there is no cure. Researchers continue to unravel the mystery surrounding narcolepsy and tremendous progress is being made every year.
Medications and lifestyle changes can help you manage the symptoms of narcolepsy to minimize its effects on your day to day activities. It is very important to make family, friends and employers aware of your condition so that they can foster a supportive environment when sudden sleep attacks occur.