Signs of Narcolepsy: Overview

December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Narcolepsy is a strange neurological disorder with conditions of excessive sleepiness during the daytime; it is a condition that also causes muscle weakness. This disorder generally begins at the age of 15 to 25 years and can cause Cataplexy (muscle weakness), Hallucinations (vivid dreams occurring while asleep) and sleep paralysis (where the sufferer cannot move or speak, and which might last for few minutes after the sleep attack).

Narcolepsy Diagnosis

Narcolepsy is a rare and a complex neurological disorder that is commonly misdiagnosed. A doctor will assess the symptoms of this problem very easily by conducting certain laboratory tests as well as going through the patients’ history. A person who has this disorder can fall asleep frequently irrespective of the time and place.

Generally, an overnight polysomnogram is used for monitoring the person during the sleep and it also records the necessary details about the patient’s brain waves, eye movements, body position, heart rate, breathing or the muscle activity. A genetic blood test would also be taken if needed.

The multiple sleep latency test is usually taken from the patient in the day times. The other tests include Hypocretin test which tests the Hypocretin fluid present in the spinal cord using a lumbar puncture. When there are low levels of this fluid, people get Narcolepsy which promotes wakefulness.

It can be difficult to diagnose this condition if the signs and symptoms of Narcolepsy are very mild. At times, it might take even ten to fifteen years to diagnose since the symptoms get pronounced gradually. Thus, based on the patient’s family and medical history, laboratory test results, and by physical examination, the doctors could diagnose Narcolepsy in an individual.

Narcolepsy Risk Factors

The actual root cause of Narcolepsy is not known, however scientists have identified that it occurs by a genetic mutation, which results in abnormal sleeping patterns. The genetic cells control the brain chemicals that are responsible for sleeping cycles. Certain scientists proved that Narcolepsy occurs due to the presence of low levels of the Hypocretin (fluid that surrounds the spinal cord).

The Hypocretin fluid plays a major role in regulating the wakefulness and the sleeping patterns in an individual. Thus, there are numerous factors like hereditary, infections, brain injuries, auto immune disorders or low levels of histamine that contribute to interact between REM sleeping disturbances and the neurological dysfunction.

Many genetic factors largely contribute to the causes of Narcolepsy and around eight to ten percent of people having this disorder tend to have other victims in the family. However, it is not be the only factor but is usually combined with other immune problems. Sometimes even the environmental toxic substances like pesticides, weed killers and other chemicals contribute to the causes of Narcolepsy.

This neurological disorder affects both men and women, and usually the symptom starts to appear from the teenage but it’s quite rare to be found in children under five years of age. This disorder is considered to be a lifelong condition, but some narcoleptics can change their lifestyle with proper guidance and thus greatly improve the way that the condition presents in their day to day lives.

Narcolepsy Symptoms

Usually, the Narcolepsy disorder may be diagnosed at a very later stage with the symptoms such as cataplexy, hallucinations, sleep paralysis, micro sleep, and night time wakefulness, rapid entry into REM sleep and many other signs and symptoms.

The most common symptoms among them are cataplexy (muscle weakness) and extreme day time sleepiness. The patients affected with Narcolepsy tend to get these signs and symptoms when they experience deep emotional state of happiness, frustration, sadness or excitement. The symptoms may vary from person to person.

Cataplexy is a muscle weakness where there is a sudden loss of muscle tone in their body which is normally triggered by strong emotions. Hallucinations are vivid dreams that may be very sensual or frightening which occurs when they are awaken or at sleep.

Sleep Paralysis is a condition where the person is unable to move the body or unable to speak at the stage of awakening. The Micro sleep is a very short sleep that occurs less than five minutes when the person is involved in an activity.

Nighttime wakefulness is a condition where people are continuously awake the whole night, complete with fast heart rates and intense alertness. The Rapid entry into REM sleep is a condition where the person immediately reaches this stage once he falls asleep but usually it might take about ninety minutes for most of the people.

These symptoms might be either mild or even severe depending on the individual. There would be an automatic behavior of the persons affected with this disorder like falling asleep while eating or in the midst of any other activity.

Narcolepsy – Stages of the Disease

Usually, each patient affected by the Narcolepsy disorder has different symptoms that vary from person to person. The various stages involved in this disorder occur in various aspects of life. Most commonly, the physical well being of a person gets affected as he might unexpectedly fall asleep in the midst of activities like working, walking, driving, and cooking, which could be quite dangerous.

The mental health of a person is affected, which leads to depression, anxiety or stress. This can affect the social and professional relationships as well. One may think that the people affected by Narcolepsy are lazy by nature but this is not so. Due to extreme tiredness and sleepiness, impotency and low sex drive is often experienced by the victims of Narcolepsy. Even the memory and the attentive power is affected which results in forgetting things frequently.

Conclusion

There is no cure for the Narcolepsy disorder but the people affected by it can bring in some significant changes to their lifestyle and lead a better life. With proper medical help and guidance, patients can improve their alertness and can enjoy an active life by reducing their symptoms.

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Help For Identifying Narcolepsy Symptoms

December 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

Narcolepsy is a serious chronic sleep disorder occurring when the brain is unable to control the body’s regular sleep cycle. A person suffering from Narcolepsy symptoms tends to feel drowsy throughout the day and experiences sudden episodes of uncontrolled sleep. It may happen anytime, regardless of what is happening before the “sleep attack”.  Because the person can literally be doing anything and fall asleep suddenly the disorder can seriously affect a person’s daily life.  People with Narcolepsy often have their licences taken away and are not allowed to drive motor vehicles.

Narcolepsy is independent of gender, age or sex.  Often the first signs of the disorder are seen between the ages of 9 and 21. The severity of the disease may vary with age however Narcolepsy is a life long illness.

Narcolepsy and Its Symptoms:

See figure 01-01a for a list of the common major systems of Narcolepsy.

Figure 01-01a – Major Symptoms Narcolepsy

Signs And Symptoms Most Common In Narcoleptics

Symptom/Sign

Description
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness – one of the most visible symptoms of Narcolepsy, which affects all people suffering from the disorder.  

Of all the symptoms and signs of Narcolepsy, EDS or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is the main symptom. It causes the affected person to feel tired throughout the day. This feeling of sleepiness persists often, regardless of a quality night time sleep. These symptoms of narcoleptic people come with a lack of energy and mental cloudiness. It also affects and impairs memory, causing depression in many.

People suffering from this symptom suddenly feel strong urges to sleep regardless of the time. It happens without warning; although these “sleep attacks” usually take place when they are inactive, such as when attending classes or meetings, watching television, or reading a book. However, it is still very possible for these sleep attacks to take place while one is talking, walking, eating, playing, or worse; while driving.

A typical sleep attack lasts for fifteen minutes to one hour with few exceptions. However, these attacks tend to recur within an hour or several hours after the previous attack. After sleeping, the person suffering from symptoms of narcolepsy wakes up refreshed, but then becomes tired again after one or two hours of consciousness. This cycle is repeated throughout the day.

As a first treatment for this Narcolepsy symptom, Xyrem (Gamma-Hyrdroxybutryric acid) and Provigil (Modafinil) may be administered.
Cataplexy – sixty to a hundred percent of people suffering from Narcolepsy symptoms also experience this.

Cataplexy is unique to Narcolepsy and its symptoms. It’s characterized by a sudden decline or loss of muscle tone and losing control over voluntary muscles. In mild cases of this Narcolepsy symptom, the person experiences slight feeling of muscle limpness or weakness in limited body areas. For example, the muscles in the neck weaken, which in turn causes sagging and drooping of facial muscles as well as drooping of the head. The person’s speech is also affected by the symptoms of Narcolepsy, making him/her slur. Narcolepsy may also cause loss of arm strength and buckling of the knees. In cases of severe Cataplexy attacks, the body collapses completely.

Cataplexy episodes are not like epilepsy where patients become unconscious as the attack is happening. In cataplexy, the patient stays conscious throughout the attack. This attack usually lasts from a few seconds to thirty minutes. Strong and sudden flares in emotion such as laughter; which is the most common catalyst of cataplexy, as well as anger, surprise, fear and excitement, trigger the episodes of a cataplexy attack.
DNS or Disturbed Nocturnal Sleep – like most other Narcolepsy symptoms, DNS does not affect all people suffering from Narcolepsy. It does, however, affect sixty to ninety percent of all patients.

People suffering from this Narcolepsy symptom suffer from insomnia or poor sleep during night. They also tend to experience an increase in body movements even while they are asleep. This includes increased heart rate, intense alertness and hot flashes. Due to the lack of sufficient sleep at nighttime, these people’s daytime sleepiness worsens drastically.
Hypnopompic and Hypnagogic Hallucinations – these symptoms and signs of Narcolepsy affects up to sixty-six percent of all patients.

Narcolepsy and its symptoms can be terrifying.  Often a sign that someone is suffering from Narcolepsy is that they experience sensory hallucinations.  Often visual and audio hallucinations can be particularly scary events.  When these occur while the person is asleep, they are referred to as hypnogogic hallucinations, while those that take place when he/she is waking up are termed hypnopompic. Hallucinations occur when the person falls to REM sleep suddenly. When we dream during these fast passages to REM sleep we may perceive the dreams as part of reality.  This can be confusing and scary for those suffering from Narcolepsy.
Sleep Paralysis – this Narcolepsy symptom affects sixty percent of patients.

Sleep paralysis happens when the patient experiences an inability to speak or move temporarily. Loss of muscle control can happen upon waking up or while falling asleep. A few hear strange noises that may sound like voices or footsteps, while others feel like someone else is inside the room or somebody sitting on their chests. Although this condition is relatively harmless and rarely causes danger, it can scare people; especially those who are experiencing it for the first time.
Automatic Behaviour – of the signs and symptoms of Narcolepsy, this one is among the rarest conditions.

This happens during brief “sleep attacks” and episodes of this are also referred to as “microsleep” and often “sleepwalking”. When this happens, the affected person does not cease to function even when he/she is sleeping. People suffering from this Narcolepsy symptom perform routine activities that have already become familiar to them when they suddenly fall asleep while in class, taking showers, or driving. Although they continue to function, they obviously cannot properly perform their respective activities.  This symptom relates to automatic behaviour while unconscious.

All these Narcolepsy symptoms may prove very hard to cope with and they can affect a person’s social, professional and family life. It may isolate a patient from the rest of society, eventually leading him/her to depression. Fortunately, they can learn treat and adapt to Narcolepsy symptoms.

If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms, you might mention Narcolepsy to your Doctor so that they can confirm or disprove if you have a chronic sleep disorder. Learning more about Narcolepsy symptoms could prove useful to those with this disorder as well. Information about Narcolepsy should be absorbed in abundance.  We will learn things such as how changes in our lifestyle, sleep therapy, lifestyle changes, and prescription drugs may help us greatly reduce our symptoms of Narcolepsy.

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Narcolepsy Blood Test & Other Useful Facts

December 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a health conditions wherein a person feels sleepy throughout the day. Sleep disorders can result from any of three basic reasons. These are:

  1. Insufficient or poor sleep: An ideal example of this is the people suffering from sleep apnea. This problem can be sorted out if the patient’s sleep-related breathing issues are taken care of.

  2. Weakened Brain System: This is also one of the reasons that can keep any person awake. A perfect example of this is Narcolepsy. In this situation, an individual feels very sleepy throughout the day even after having a good sleep at night.

  3. A mixed condition: The condition of Narcolepsy usually develops in a person in his or her earlier childhood or teen years and eventually, with growing age and weight, it takes the form of sleep apnea, adding to the existing problems of the condition.

It is important to note that if a person is suffering from both the critical conditions and the treatment is applied on only one such as sleep apnea and not on the other, it can lead to disastrous results.

Treating sleep apnea may improve the health conditions of the patient but cannot eradicate the problem from its root. Cardiac and stroke related dangers can be alleviated but the untreated narcolepsy will make them fall asleep anyway, paving way for other complications. There can be more than one reason and symptom to any kind of sleep disorder. Hence, it’s essential to offer proper and wholesome treatment to the patient.

As mentioned earlier, Narcolepsy causes brain-related sleepiness in a person. In addition, it is also associated with REM sleep disorders. REM or Rapid Eye Movement sleep disorder in a person occurs immediately after he or she falls asleep. This disorder can be caused by hypnopompic hallucinations and hypnagogic. The hypnopompic hallucinations and hypnagogic is the occurrence of the fragments of dreams before or after the sleep. Another cause of REM sleep can be sleep paralysis or a situation where a person finds himself or herself unable to call out or even move his or her body while sleeping or waking up. Cataplexy as well as dreaming during short sleep can also cause REM sleep disorders. Cataplexy is a medical condition under which the patient feels weakness in his muscles due to any kind of emotional impact, such as laughter. Patients suffering from cataplexy typically always also have Narcolepsy, but patients having Narcolepsy might not always experience cataplexy.

Who can suffer From Narcolepsy?

Both males and females can suffer from Narcolepsy. The main symptom of this disease is sleepiness, which usually takes place in latter part of the childhood, teen years or beginning of 20s. Narcolepsy can also develop in the individuals who are 30 years of age, but, this is very rare.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy

The symptoms of narcolepsy are falling asleep at a frequent rate, hyperactive behavioural pattern, and even other conditions such as Cataplexy.

Causes of Narcolepsy:

This disease is caused if the chemical “neurotransmitters” is found to be missing in the brain cells. Neurotransmitters controls and supervises the communication link between different brain cells and nerve.

Some members in a family can be genetically prone to developing Narcolepsy. However, this is not considered to be a purely genetic ailment in people. Narcolepsy may sometime result from excessive stress, but, as with the instances of genetic causes, this is not strictly a psychological disorder.

How to diagnose Narcolepsy

In order to diagnose Narcolepsy, some careful steps need to be taken. The patient’s history should be carefully observed. His or her sleeping habits should be closely monitored, and a multiple sleep latency test should be conducted. Other than this, the cataplexy disorder should also be taken into consideration.

Is a Narcolepsy blood test helpful?

Narcolepsy cannot be conclusively diagnosed by blood test. However, there are some medical practitioners that believe that blood test can help diagnose this medical condition in a patient. They think that individuals suffering from Narcolepsy have specific HLA types. HLA types are genetically ascertained signs on white blood cells that help in finding out tissue compatibility-for instance, to check an individual’s willingness to donate a kidney to the one whose system may not accept the kidney that has been transplanted. HLA types are determined by a blood test. However, these tests cannot be used for diagnosing narcolepsy because of two reasons: 1) the test will be in negative for the patients who are suffering from narcolepsy as well as cataplexy, and 2) about 25% of the people have same HLA types that are related to Narcolepsy.

How to cure Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy can be treated if proper medication as well as a bit of common sense is applied. A Narcoleptic patient cannot be treated solely on the basis of medication. The treatment should be designed according to each individual case in concern. In this process, it is important to remove all the aggravating elements that can cause the symptoms to grow more serious, and cause the suggested medications to become less useful.

To elucidate it further, the practitioner cannot recommend a diabetic to do anything whatever he or she feels like because insulin shots are being given. Prescribing medication also means that the patient should be given a proper diet chart and counselled as and when required. This is applicable in case of all types of ailments including Narcolepsy.

Also, the medical practitioner who is treating the individual with Narcolepsy symptoms should possess experience and expertise in handling these types of cases. Physicians should inform the patient about the things or conditions that can pose further risks to his or her health. Not only this, it’s the duty of the practitioner to educate his patient about the ways to handle this disorder with a positive attitude.

Some of the medications that can be prescribed to a Narcoleptic patient are sodium oxybate (Xyrem) and antidepressants. Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) taken at night. All these are stimulating agents. Since these medications may contain some side-effects, physician should prescribe them with utmost care to any individual based on his or her medical records, symptoms, and more.

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Signs of Narcolepsy- What Doctors Look For

October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that has been found in an estimated three million people in the world today. To have a chronic sleep disorder means that the signs and symptoms will gradually get worse if left untreated. In this day and age there is hope for anyone suffering with a sleep disorder, as scientists have developed many types of medications to treat any symptom associated with narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy can, however, go misdiagnosed or even undiagnosed due to lack of information on the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy. This can cause a narcoleptic person to have health issues that can be truly frightening. Narcolepsy symptoms should be reported to the doctor immediately. This means that anyone that suspects even the slightest sign of narcolepsy should get more information on the matter by visiting their local sleep clinic.

Narcolepsy Signs and Symptoms

Narcolepsy has a host of symptoms that can leave a person feeling dreadful. These symptoms can be misdiagnosed due to similarity to other ailments, leaving the patient without the proper medication and other therapies needed to cope with narcolepsy. The symptoms and signs of narcolepsy are:

  • E.D.S. or excessive daytime sleepiness. This is the most common complaint by people with narcolepsy. E.D.S. is exactly as it sounds, which is the feeling/need for daytime sleep and the inability to control it. E.D.S. is often made far worst if the person also has insomnia.

  • Cataplexy is probably the most dangerous symptom related to narcolepsy. Cataplexy is the sudden and uncontrollable loss of muscle control. This is especially dangerous if it happens when the person is driving a car or operating machinery. Usually a person with cataplexy will be walking and suddenly fall down due to the loss of muscle tone, which can result in injury. This can happen any time, day or night with warning.

  • Sleep paralysis is a sort of disconnection of the brain from the body. This can happen when a person is falling sleep, which is called hypnogogic, or when they are entering R.E.M. sleep or waking up, which is called hypnopompic. When this happens it leaves the person totally aware of everything in the room, but leaves them unable to speak or move. Usually hallucinations of a very frightening nature ensue during episodes of sleep paralysis. People experiencing sleep paralysis may not necessarily have narcolepsy, although it is a symptom of narcolepsy.

  • Hallucinations are when someone hears voices or sees things that aren’t really there. These visions can be extremely real to the person, which can cause terror to fill their mind. Hallucinations are commonly associated with sleep paralysis, but there have been cases of narcolepsy with hallucinations and no sleep paralysis.

  • Insomnia is another narcolepsy sign that can be independent of the disorder itself. Insomnia is the inability to sleep well during the nighttime, or when a person falls asleep, but is unable to remain asleep, causing episodes of daytime sleepiness.

There are other narcolepsy signs that are secondary to these primary symptoms. Usually the medications and therapies will work to solve these secondary signs, but only if these are paid attention to and properly diagnosed. The secondary signs of narcolepsy are:

  • Irritability
  • Sleepwalking
  • Forgetfulness
  • Clumsiness
  • Poor performance in work or school
  • Friendships or personal relationships suffer
  • Depression

With the proper treatment, narcolepsy and signs and symptoms associated with it can be managed effectively. If a person has the least idea that they may have narcolepsy, then they should act immediately by going to a sleep clinic or to their family doctor.

Narcolepsy Treatment Options

Narcolepsy symptoms can be treated by medication and therapies in the home, which most call lifestyle changes. These changes will have a positive effect on the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy, lessening the stress and strain that people go through when incidents arise. When combined with the proper medication, narcolepsy patients have been known in some cases to live practically incident free. This gives them a new lease on life by allowing them to live daily life like everyone else. These lifestyle changes are:

  • Maintain a nutritious diet
  • Schedule changes for better sleep management
  • Planned daytime naps each lasting about 10 minutes
  • Tell employers, friends, family, co-workers about this condition
  • Seek counseling and support groups
  • Avoid the use of alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and illegal drugs
  • Take all medications as prescribed by doctor
  • Write down all episodes and incidents that occur concerning this condition

With all of these changes in mind, let’s look at the list of medications which should be added to them. These include:

  • Stimulants help to promote a better working central nervous system. Stimulants are usually prescribed for the treatment of E.D.S. and cataplexy. Commonly prescribed stimulants are Nuvigil and Provigil. Patients with a medical history of depression or psychiatric issues should not take stimulants, as they have been known to produce intense suicidal thinking.

  • Antidepressants are usually prescribed to treat depression, but in narcolepsy patients it’s a common treatment for cataplexy and hallucinations associated with sleep paralysis. Common antidepressants used to treat narcolepsy symptoms are Prozac and Zoloft.

  • Sodium oxybate is a drug that is unlike the other drugs used in the treatment of narcolepsy. Sodium oxybate is a liquid that, when taken correctly, provides the patient with a time of peaceful sleep. This drug must be taken very strictly as prescribed to avoid accidental overdose. The best known version of this drug is Xyrem.

As with all medications, medical science works to create better versions of the medicines we use, which can cause older medications to be discontinued. The reason for this research is to provide people with a better product that has the least amount of side effects. Such is the case with the older versions of antidepressants called tricyclics. The list of side effects far outweighed the benefits of these drugs, causing them to lose popularity, although they were said to be amazing when used to treat cataplexy.

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Effects of Narcolepsy: What to Watch For

September 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Narcolepsy is a type of hypersomnia disorder that affects one in two thousand people, and it presents with various symptoms in both men and women. There could be an extreme sleepiness during the daytime, which may last for a few minutes or even just for a few seconds. One might even experience muscle paralysis during emotional highs like laughter, sadness, excitement, and more. Such conditions can adversely affect the person’s personal, social and professional life.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy

The symptoms of Narcolepsy may vary from person to person but the most common symptoms for everyone would be extreme day sleepiness and muscle weakness. The excessive sleep during the day time would be the first condition in any person suffering from Narcolepsy causing frequent sleep attacks which lasts for few minutes or more.

The muscle weakness is also another symptom that attacks the narcoleptics is caused by extreme emotional levels and may also cause difficulties in sleeping, drooping eyelids, nodding head, and struggling to move the hands or arms; it and may also cause muscle paralysis which may last for just two or more minutes.

The sleep paralysis is also another symptom but all narcoleptic victims might not experience this. Hallucinations in the form of vivid dreams may occur while sleeping or awake or dozing. Though this is real, it can be a scary experience for many. Certain people have disturbing sleeping patterns at night due to frequent bouts of sleep in the morning.

Automatic behaviors can occur commonly in narcoleptics since they do not realize their actions of which they are completely unaware. These people tend to forget their automatic behaviors very often. In some cases, the symptoms may be very mild whereas in certain cases it tends to be really severe.

Effects of Narcolepsy

Falling asleep in inappropriate times or while in the midst of an activity like driving, working, cooking, eating, walking could be highly dangerous. Because of such unexpected sleep attacks, there may be fatal accidents or injuries. Victims of narcolepsy also experience stress and depression, lack of concentration, problems in their workplace or at school and can even suffer from an impaired memory.

These could be threatening to the normal being of a person, as the nature of the attacks is highly unpredictable. Victims might suffer from sleep-bouts in their school or at work, or anywhere in a public place which would ultimately cause a loss of self-esteem and confidence. It could also result in problems within the family or with co-workers or employers.
Since there is always a sign of laziness, fatigue and disinterest towards things, people might tend to think that Narcoleptics are simply lazy. Since there is no complete cure for this disorder, the victims need to carry these problems for a lifetime. However, with proper medical guidance, the symptoms can easily be greatly reduced.

Usually, people who suffer from Narcolepsy are at a greater risk of accidents at any point of time!  Thus, it is always advisable to stop stepping out of the house if you experience any symptom of excessive day sleepiness or fatigue. Due to excessive sleep in the morning, these people might remain very troubled and drowsy throughout the day, while suffering from lack of sleep at night.
Due to poor sleeping patterns, it could lead to poor attention span or people might even struggle a lot to concentrate on things – all these would adverse their social life. Also many narcoleptics complain of headaches, which might lead to migraines. Also due to the low levels of Hypocretin fluid in their brain, there would be an increase in the appetite levels resulting in over eating and obesity.

Treatment for Narcolepsy

As far as treatment of Narcoleptics is concerned, there is no cure for such disorders; however, affected people can change their lifestyle to reduce the symptoms and lead a better life. Apart from regular medications, Narcoleptics can follow several tips to make their lives easier.
Usually, stimulants are given by the doctors to keep them awake and alert during the day but there may be certain side effects to these drugs, such as nervousness and palpitation. The Antidepressants are also used for treating the sleep paralysis or the cataplexy but they too have their side effects.
It is always advisable to avoid heavy meals, alcohol or caffeine while under medication. Additionally, patients should maintain a healthy diet along with a good exercise to help improve their physical as well as mental health. Following these tips can drastically reduce the signs and symptoms of Narcolepsy over a course of time.

Living with Narcolepsy

Since Narcolepsy is a lifelong condition and the chances of a complete cure is very rare, so you should learn to reduce the symptoms. Try to find a quiet and peaceful place to rest if you get frequent sleep attacks during the day. Make sure your home or the atmosphere you stay is safe and protected, as your unpredicted sleep patterns might be dangerous for the security of your house and family members.

Get the help of your doctors, friends or family members, and never forget to take medicines on a regular basis. In case, you are driving, take your family, friends, or co-workers along with you as a safety measure. Narcoleptics can work any type of job, but they should be always extra careful about their place of work. It is quite important that all your friends, family members or your co- workers are aware of your disorder – this is to help maximize safety no matter where you may be.
Conclusion

It may be quite embarrassing if there are frequent sleep attacks or tiredness during the day, but do not let this daunt your zeal for living life to the fullest. Try not to suffer from low self-esteem or feel depressed about your medical problem – there are many like you and they are leading a happy life. Learn more about this disorder to try to minimize your symptoms though a combination of medicine, lifestyle changes, and plenty of exercise and restful time.

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Narcolepsy in Children: What Every Parent Needs to Know

September 11, 2011 By 7 Comments

What are the Symptoms of Narcolepsy in Children?

Most of the symptoms that are present in adult Narcolepsy patients are seen in children with Narcolepsy. The big four symptoms, most commonly used to identify narcoleptic patients are the same four symptoms that adults look for.

The BIG FOUR

  • Daytime Sleepiness: Narcoleptic children are always tired during the day, even if they slept a healthy amount the night before. Children with Narcolepsy fall asleep many times throughout the day and experience a hard time staying awake.
  • Cataplexy: Like in narcoleptic adults, Cataplexy is a very rare development that accompanies the disorder. It is just as possible for narcoleptic children to develop Cataplexy as it is for older patiyou’rents, but it is much more dangerous in small children. Most young children need constant supervision to ensure their safety. Children with Cataplexy need much more physical attention and cautionary care than other children. Children with Cataplexy are often seen as despondent or depressed. Strong emotional responses like laughter could cause them to suddenly fall into a Cataplexy episode, so they are scared to encounter the emotional response.
  • Sleep Paralysis: Children with Narcolepsy often experience periods of paralysis when falling asleep and/or waking up. For a short period of time, ranging from a few seconds to a few moments, the child experiencing sleep paralysis has no control over their ability to move their body, speak, or even move their eyes. The child is completely aware the entire time, but unable to function.
  • Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Hypnagogic Hallucinations in narcoleptic children are often misdiagnosed as simple “bad dreams” or night terrors. If your child is experiencing habitual, vividly overwhelming dreams, you may want to look deeper at the root of the problem.

Other Symptoms of Narcolepsy in Children:

Children with Narcolepsy may also exhibit other physical symptoms of their disorder. In fact, hyperactivity and lack of focus are two of the most commonly identified symptoms of Narcolepsy in children.

  • Problems Falling Asleep
  • Sudden Deep Sleep
  • Excessive Day Sleep
  • Disrupted Sleeping Patterns
  • Automatic Behavior
  • Memory Loss
  • Lack of Concentration
  • Falling Grades
  • Substance Abuse
  • Low Motivation
  • Mood Swings
  • Difficulty Keeping up with Peers

How is Narcolepsy in Children Diagnosed?

Children who may be suffering from Narcolepsy are diagnosed in the same fashion as adults. After a thorough physical examination of the child, a thorough record of personal and family medical history will be taken. If a diagnosis cannot be reached, the child may be referred to a sleep clinic where they will be suggested to participate in a sleep study- most commonly the polysomnogram and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test.

How Can you Treat Children and Narcolepsy?

  • Medication: Prescription medications are often given to treat the effects of Narcolepsy in children. Antidepressants and hyperactivity medications like Adderall and Ritalin are most common.
  • Behavior Modification:
  • Follow an extremely strict sleeping schedule- Wake up and fall asleep at the same times everyday.
  1. Before bed, do relaxing activities with your child; read them a book or give them a bath. Do the same activity before bed every night to instill a sense of routine and composure in your child.
  2. Change, or rearrange medications under the supervision of a medical professional.
  3. Avoid dangerous activities like swimming, coking, driving, or playing unsupervised. Activities that require a certain level of risk involved are only recommended for the times of day when a young child or adolescent feels most alert.
  4. Encourage your child to increase their physical activity during the day. Exercise will help your child’s brain regulate sleeping patterns, as well as keep the immune system healthy and powerful.
  5. Keep your child away from tasks they may find boring or too repetitive. An interested child is an alert child.
  6. Eat healthy meals with your child at a scheduled time. Meals should consist of well balanced, small portions of food and should be eaten more frequently throughout the day.
  • Napping Schedule: If your child is suffering from Narcolepsy, try your best to help them get an adequate amount of sleep every night; this means including a sleeping schedule that accommodates the suggested amount of sleep for the age group of your child. Deciding whether or not a narcoleptic child is safe to nap during the day can be tricky. Generally, it is recommended that parents let narcoleptic children take one to two short naps during the day, but no more than absolutely needed.

Tips for Caring for Children with Narcolepsy

  • Narcolepsy is a scary and overwhelming disease for all age groups who struggle with it. Many adult narcoleptics feel a sense of shame and embarrassment surrounding the oddity of their disorder. Imagine how that embarrassment must feel to a young child who just found out that they’re different from everyone else. It’s going to be a long, winding, and sometimes painful road for your child when it comes to managing and accepting their disorder.
  • As a parent, your job is to be there for children whenever they need it. Be an open book; if your child has questions about their medical condition, tell them the truth. Help your child know that they are still beautiful and normal even though they have a disorder that sets them apart. You are going to be their biggest support system while they struggle to deal with the complications of childhood Narcolepsy.
  • Help your child follow all of the treatment suggestions given by your doctor. If your child was prescribed medication, make sure that they take it accordingly and responsibly. If your doctor places any dietary or physical restrictions on your child, help them stick to the commitment.
  • Education and conversation is the key to making a young child with Narcolepsy, or any other uncommon disorder, feel comfortable. If your child, or the child of someone close to you, has recently been diagnosed with an uncommon disorder, make sure that you make the effort to educate the people around you on the subject. Help them understand the symptoms and causes of Narcolepsy in children.
  • Plan for a future that includes a child with Narcolepsy. Evaluate how this development will affect your home, work, education, and family. Start planning for the necessary changes that must occur to accommodate a child with Narcolepsy early so that you will be well-prepared for situations yet to come.
  • Let your family, friends, colleagues, and school administrators know about your child’s condition as soon as possible; this way, all the necessary modifications that need to be made to suit your child’s special needs will be in place prior to your arrival. If you fail to point out your child’s unique medical and physical needs, they may gain a false reputation of laziness or unintelligence.
  • Look for support in the community. Narcolepsy is not a common disorder, but you’d be surprised to see how much support is right around the corner. Look for support groups in town, and in surrounding locations, that are geared towards assisting children with debilitating disorders like Narcolepsy or Cataplexy.
  • If you have trouble finding a support group locally, ask your doctor or medical care provider. In some cases, your medical professional may not be to knowledgeable about sleep disorders and testing. When they are unable to point you in the right direction, try your local universities and libraries.
  • When looking for support locally fails, hop on the internet and see what you can find near you.
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