What are the 5 signs of narcolepsy?

What are 2 triggers for narcolepsy?

Things that have been suggested as possible triggers of narcolepsy include: hormonal changes, which can occur during puberty or the menopause. major psychological stress. an infection, such as swine flu, or the medicine used to vaccinate against it (Pandemrix)

How do I know if I've got narcolepsy?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is usually the first sign of narcolepsy. It can have a significant impact on everyday life. Feeling drowsy throughout the day and struggling to stay awake makes it difficult to concentrate at work or school. People with narcolepsy may be misjudged as being lazy or rude.

What can be mistaken for narcolepsy?

What is a mild case of narcolepsy?

A person with narcolepsy is extremely sleepy all the time and, in severe cases, falls asleep involuntarily several times every day. Narcolepsy is caused by a malfunction in a brain structure called the hypothalamus. Mild cases of narcolepsy can be managed with regular naps, while severe cases need medication.

Signs and Symptoms of Narcolepsy

What are the three main characteristics of narcolepsy?

Major symptoms associated with narcolepsy include somnolence, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.

What triggers the onset of narcolepsy?

It is often triggered by sudden, strong emotions such as laughter, fear, anger, stress, or excitement.

What is narcoleptic personality?

Narcolepsy can be associated also with less conspicuous problems, including introversion, sorrowfulness, feelings of inferiority, impaired affectivity modulation, emotional lability, irritability, aggressiveness, and poor attention that some authors have defined as the “narcoleptic personality” (4).

What is the best medication for narcolepsy?

Stimulants. Drugs that stimulate the central nervous system are the primary treatment to help people with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. Your health care provider may recommend modafinil (Provigil) or armodafinil (Nuvigil).

What happens before narcolepsy?

While excessive daytime sleepiness (persistent sleepiness during waking hours regardless of how much sleep you get the night before) is a key early symptom of narcolepsy, many people who have extreme fatigue during the day may not initially suspect that they have the condition.

When does narcolepsy usually start?

Narcolepsy symptoms usually first occur between age 15 and 30 years. Below are the most common symptoms. You may feel a strong urge to sleep, often followed by a period of sleep. You can't control when you fall asleep.

How many hours of sleep does someone with narcolepsy need?

In addition to any of the typical narcolepsy symptoms, people with secondary narcolepsy also have severe neurological problems and require large amounts (>10 hours) of sleep. To understand the symptoms of narcolepsy, it helps to first understand how sleep happens normally.

Do narcoleptics sleep a lot?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to control sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy may feel rested after waking, but then feel very sleepy throughout much of the day.

What age does narcolepsy peak?

The onset of narcolepsy can occur anytime between early childhood and 50 years of age. Two peak time periods have been identified; one around 15 years of age and another around 36 years of age.

Can a blood test detect narcolepsy?

In addition to the above, Stanford Sleep Specialists will commonly performed a blood genetic test for narcolepsy if they suspect hypocretin deficiency called Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) DQB1*06:02 typing.

How do you test for narcolepsy at home?

One helpful self-assessment tool for recognizing sleepiness is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). You can measure your daytime sleepiness using a printed version of the ESS (PDF) or the online version of this screening tool.

Can Certain things trigger narcolepsy?

Possible triggers

hormonal changes, including those that take place during puberty or the menopause. major psychological stress. a sudden change in sleep patterns. an infection, such as swine flu or a streptococcal infection.

Can you drive if you have narcolepsy?

You need to be medically able to drive, which includes being able to stay awake. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the government agency that oversees highway safety, says that people with narcolepsy should only drive if they're on a treatment that helps them stay awake.

Can I have narcolepsy and not know it?

Narcolepsy, a relatively rare and poorly understood neurological condition, can be hard to diagnose. Julea Steiner was misdiagnosed for years before a sleep study helped doctors recognize her symptoms—excessive daytime sleepiness, vivid dreams, hallucinations, and mild cataplexy—as narcolepsy.

Does caffeine help narcolepsy?

Consider your caffeine use.

Some people with narcolepsy find coffee or other caffeinated beverages helpful to staying awake. For others, coffee is ineffective, or, in combination with stimulant medications, it can cause jitteriness, diarrhea, anxiety, or a racing heart.

What puts you at risk for narcolepsy?

Causes and risk factors

Your family history or environment can raise your risk of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy may also occur after an upper airway infection or, rarely, because of a head injury, sarcoidosis, a stroke, or another medical condition.

What mental illness causes narcolepsy?

Other health conditions linked to narcolepsy

anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder or phobias. psychosis, which refers to disconnection from reality, such as in schizophrenia. REM sleep behavior disorder, which causes unusual behavior during REM sleep, usually during dreaming. cognitive impairment.

Does narcolepsy affect memory?

The primary symptom that all people with narcolepsy experience is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which can interfere with everyday life and activities. Related symptoms can include extreme exhaustion, brain fog, a lack of energy, little to no concentration, lapses in memory and depression.

What vitamin helps with narcolepsy?

Recommended micronutrients for narcolepsy control are calcium, magnesium, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin C. In addition to the type of food consumed, eating habits also have an impact.