Treatment of narcolepsy typically includes healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medication. How are narcolepsy and hypersomnia treated? If you fall asleep easily or enter REM sleep quickly, you probably have narcolepsy. She asks you to take four or five naps, about two hours apart.Īs you fall asleep, Dr. Patel measures how long it takes you to fall asleep for a nap and how quickly you go into dream (REM) sleep. Multiple sleep latency testĪ multiple sleep latency test occurs in the daytime. It also tracks the movements of your muscles and eyes. Polysomnography uses electrodes to monitor your brain, heart, and breathing during sleep. Depending on your age, symptoms, and medical history, she might recommend: Polysomnography Patel diagnoses narcolepsy through sleep studies. How is narcolepsy diagnosed?Īt Sonoran Sleep Center, Dr. Other forms of excessive daytime sleepiness, such asCentral Nervous System (CNS) hypersomnia can occur in people who suffer from:ĬNS can affect people of all ages and may be associated with disorders as listed above. But the risk of a parent passing this disorder to a child is very low - only about 1 percent. It’s also likely that genetics play a role in the development of narcolepsy. That said, people with type 1 narcolepsy have low levels of hypocretin, a neurochemical that helps regulate REM sleep and wakefulness. The underlying cause of narcolepsy is unknown. Unlike in patients with narcolepsy, naps are not refreshing. If you have hypersomnia, you may experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Symptoms of sleep inertia (sleep drunkenness).For example, you may see strange shadows on the wall (shadows may appear like people) watching you. If you have narcolepsy, you’re may experience hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up. Sudden loss of muscle tone when laughing or with anger.What are the symptoms of narcolepsy and hypersomnia? Type 1 narcolepsy occurs alongside a sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) while type 2 narcolepsy more commonly causes sleep-related symptoms. There are two types of narcolepsy: type 1 narcolepsy and type 2 narcolepsy. If you’re concerned about daytime fatigue and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, call Houston Neurology & Sleep Diagnostic Center or schedule a consultation online today.Narcolepsy is a chronic condition that causes you to fall asleep suddenly or feel very tired. For example, you can remove all screens and phones from your room, keep your bedroom cool and dark, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and rich or spicy foods in the evenings. Sleep hygiene includes changes and habits to give you the best possible night’s sleep. Adding at least 20 minutes of exercise to your day.Chu can also help you modify your lifestyle to reduce the disruptiveness of your symptoms. Depending on your specific needs and your overall health, he may prescribe medication such as stimulants, antidepressants, and sodium oxybate. Chu provides highly customized treatments for narcolepsy. What does narcolepsy treatment involve?ĭr. Chu may order a spinal tap to test the hypocretin levels in your cerebral fluid. Chu uses comprehensive physical exams, lab tests, and sleep studies to diagnose narcolepsy and rule out other conditions that could contribute to your symptoms. What testing can diagnose narcolepsy?Īt Houston Neurology & Sleep Diagnostic Center, Dr. Medical researchers believe that an autoimmune disorder can cause your body to destroy the cells responsible for producing hypocretin, leading to Type 1 narcolepsy. Additionally, if you have a personal or family history of autoimmune problems, you may have an increased risk of narcolepsy. For example, if you have a family history of the condition, your risk of developing narcolepsy increases. Several factors contribute to your risk of narcolepsy. In addition to these two types, there is secondary narcolepsy, which occurs as a side effect following an injury to your hypothalamus. If you have Type 2 narcolepsy, you also have normal hypocretin levels. It has milder symptoms and doesn’t cause cataplexy. Type 1 narcolepsy (which used to be known as narcolepsy with cataplexy) is caused by low levels of hypocretin, the hormone that controls your REM patterns and promotes wakefulness. Cataplexy - emotionally triggered loss of muscle control.Narcolepsy can indeed cause sleep attacks however, you’re far more likely to have: While it’s commonly believed that narcolepsy will make you fall asleep at any time, the condition is significantly more complicated. Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder that affects only 1 in every 2,000-3,000 people.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |