Narcolepsy
is a sleep disorder that occurs in approximately 1 in 4,000 persons in the
United States. People with
narcolepsy faces a lifelong nervous system disorder that causes abnormal sleep and
can affect a person’s quality of life. It’s a persistent condition that can
cause not only extreme drowsiness but brief sleep paralysis, muscle weakness,
hallucinations, insomnia, and other sleep disorders. These symptoms aren’t just
frustrating—they’re dangerous as they can lead to accidents, injuries, or
life-threatening situations.
Narcolepsy is not dangerous in itself, but it usually comes
with Cataplexy which is a sudden
loss of muscle control. This may be just a slight feeling of weakness, such as
sagging facial muscles. The head might drop forward or worse, buckling of the
knees resulting in total collapse of the person. In severe cases, the patient
can become sleep paralyzed, lasting for a few seconds to several minutes.
During this time, the patient may seem to be unconscious, but can be fully
awake and temporarily unable to move. This can be a frightening situation to be
in.
Narcoleptics
may also have hallucinations that seem real and happen when falling asleep
or waking up. Imagine having a dream so vivid it feels like it’s really
happening. Narcoleptics are to such dreams and may have trouble waking up. Sleep
paralysis often accompanies these vivid dreams. They experience hearing
sounds or unwanted visions while drifting to sleep. They may also have
additional sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, that also interfere
with their ability to get a good night's rest. This lack of quality sleep is a
likely contributor to their daytime drowsiness.
Do you think you have Narcolepsy? Schedule an appointment with a sleep medicine specialist at Sleep Med Center, Chicago today!