Narcolepsy is a disease from which one of the characters in the movie My Own Idaho suffered. What is this rare disease? Some of us fall asleep for a long time. For people suffering from narcolepsy, it literally takes a moment. But there is nothing to envy them, because they can fall asleep while talking to the boss or riding a bicycle. What are the causes and symptoms of narcolepsy?

Narcolepsyis aa neurological diseasecharacterized by excessivedaytime sleepiness . It is caused by a deficiency ofhypocretin- a protein that plays an important role in regulating sleep and wakefulness. The decreased production of hypocretin is caused by damage to the lateral hypothalamus (part of the brain) that is responsible for sleep. It is supposed that this is the result of an abnormal reaction of the immune system triggered by a banal infection.

Narcolepsy - the four main symptoms

Not all of them are necessarily associated with narcolepsy.

  • Sleepiness during the day. This symptom is the first and sometimes the only sign of the disease. Patients fall asleep in less than 5 minutes in situations in which we are always active, e.g. during a conversation with the supervisor. Sleepiness fluctuates throughout the day. This clears up after a short nap, but intensifies again after a while.
  • Cataplexy. This symptom occurs only in narcolepsy. These are drops in muscle tone in emotional situations (e.g. laughter, anger). As a result of muscle relaxation, patients softly slide to the ground. With a slight damage to the hypothalamus, only the facial muscles flabby, which is manifested by slurred speech and lower jaw dropping.
  • Sleep hallucinations. Narcolepsy is associated with the dream phase of REM sleep. In he althy people, it is preceded by a non-REM phase, deep and without dreams. Patients with narcolepsy fall asleep and immediately enter the world of very realistic dreams, usually fearful, resembling hallucinations.
  • Sleep paralysis. Appears while falling asleep or right after waking up. You cannot move for a few or several seconds, because the body is paralyzed as during dreams, but the consciousness is not asleep.

Narcolepsy can be treated

Cataplexy and sleep hallucinations are treated with antidepressants, while drowsiness is treated with a preparation used in the treatment of ADHD, whichit is always effective. In the world, another stimulant drug is used instead. It prevents daytime naps so that patients can function normally in society. In severe cases, sodium oxybate is given to help you sleep well at night and reduce sleep attacks during the day. Unfortunately, both of these modern drugs are not reimbursed and their individual import is expensive.

Important

Is this narcolepsy?

The diagnosis is made possible by examining the patient's sleep at night and during the day (sensors record e.g. the number of naps, falling asleep immediately with the REM sleep phase). The collection of cerebrospinal fluid and checking the level of hypocretin also allow for quick and error-free diagnosis, but in Poland it is basically not performed.

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Psychiatry