What does mild narcolepsy look like?

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) is different from feeling tired all the time. If you have hypersomnia, you may: regularly nap during the day and not feel refreshed. fall asleep during the day, often while eating or talking. still sleep for long hours at night.

https://www.nhs.uk › excessive-daytime-sleepiness-hypersomnia

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) - NHS

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.

Is there a mild form 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.

What can be mistaken for narcolepsy?

What are the five 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)

What does Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) with Narcolepsy Feel Like?

How do you know if you have mild 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 test confirms narcolepsy?

The diagnosis of narcolepsy is usually supported by test results from a polysomnogram and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). A polysomnogram helps your physician assess brain activity during sleep, in particular, how frequently and when REM activity is occurring.

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.

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.

What is stage1 narcolepsy?

Type 1 narcolepsy (previously termed narcolepsy with cataplexy). This diagnosis is based on the individual either having low levels of a brain hormone (hypocretin) or reporting cataplexy and having excessive daytime sleepiness on a special nap test.

How many hours do narcoleptics sleep?

Hypersomnia with long sleep time is characterized by a prolonged (> 10 h) nighttime sleep, with frequent sleep drunkenness and long, unrefreshing naps, usually sleeping more than 11 to 12 h per day.

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.

How is mild narcolepsy treated?

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 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.

What qualifies as narcolepsy?

Diagnostic Criteria for Narcolepsy

For NT1, a patient must have low levels of hypocretin in their CSF or have cataplexy symptoms plus a short time to fall asleep and enter REM sleep on the MSLT. For NT2, a patient must have similar results on the MSLT, but they cannot have cataplexy or low levels of hypocretin.

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.

Will an EEG show narcolepsy?

Conclusion: Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. A definite diagnosis is established when the symptoms of cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness occur in association with the characteristic findings on sleep EEG monitoring.

Can anxiety mimic narcolepsy?

Recent findings indicate that anxiety disorders also are associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, hypnagogic-hypnopompic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. These observations suggest a possible relationship between anxiety disorders and narcolepsy.

What are the three main characteristics of narcolepsy?

The four classic symptoms of narcolepsy are known as the narcoleptic tetrad and consist of: (1) sleep attacks—sudden urges to sleep; (2) cataplexy—partial or generalized flaccid paralysis precipitated by anticipatory excitement, laughter, anger, or surprise; (3) hypnagogic hallucinations—frightening or menacing ...

How many naps do you need for narcolepsy?

Thorpy recommends people with narcolepsy take no more than two naps of 15 minutes each. Since patients with narcolepsy have disturbed quality sleep at night, taking excessive daytime naps can worsen their sleep disruption.

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.

What does a narcoleptic episode feel like?

People with narcolepsy may feel rested after waking, but then feel very sleepy throughout much of the day. Many individuals with narcolepsy also experience uneven and interrupted sleep that can involve waking up frequently during the night. Narcolepsy can greatly affect daily activities.

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 causes narcolepsy to flare up?

Experts think narcolepsy comes from an autoimmune disorder. Most people with narcolepsy have very low levels of hypocretin, a chemical in the brain that helps you stay awake. A problem with the immune system causes it to attack the cells that produce hypocretin. The lack of this chemical is what leads to sleep attacks.