Narcolepsy
Even though Narcolepsy itself is not an "autoimmune",
I've included it in IWGW since much about the disease
is unknown and it has been associated with other conditions
including autoimmune disorders.
Narcolepsy is a chronic central
nervous system disorder, not a mental illness and
is a true condition despite the many myths out there.
It is caused by a lack of a specific protein in the
brain called hypocretin (also called orexins) that
disrupts what would usually be a normal cycle for
sleep. The exact cause of the lack of protein isn't
known, however many studies have shown that there
may be a genetic factor involved.
Because the symptoms of Narcolepsy typically only
involve drowsiness, urges to sleep during the day
and periods of sudden muscle tone loss (called cataplexy),
it can go undiagnosed for years or is commonly misdiagnosed
as other conditions such as seizure disorders, depression,
mental disorders or other condition that cause sleep
disturbances and fatigue.
Initial symptoms of Narcolepsy may include sudden
daytime drowsiness even with adequate night-time sleep,
sudden urges to sleep - particularly after a meal,
sudden loss of muscle tone and brief periods of paralysis.
Attacks can last a few minutes to 15 minutes each
and can happen several times a day.
There is no cure and the disease is chronic, but
it is treatable with medication and lifestyle adjustments.
Factors such as insomnia,
stress and physical exertion can also worsen symptoms,
so reducing these things can also improve affects
of Narcolepsy.
Symptoms:
Difficulty staying asleep
Drowsiness
Excessive day time sleepiness even after adequate
night time sleeping
Physical need to nap multiple times in a day
Tendency to fall asleep without notice at inappropriate
times and places
Diagnosis:
Typically doctors will do thorough physical exams
and blood tests to rule out other conditions first,
and then perform tests that may or may not conclusively
diagnose Narcolepsy. Some of the tests used to diagnose
Narcolepsy include an electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or
an electroencephalography (EEG to measure brain activity).
Genetic testing might also be done to test for the
gene suspected to be a risk-factor for Narcolepsy.
Sleep studies are also important diagnosing tools
and may be performed to measure the time it takes
for a patient to start a daytime nap and enter full-sleep
mode. Narcolepsy patients tend to fall asleep much
faster than normal people. One of the sleep studies
that may be performed is called a Multiple Sleep Latency
Test (MSLT).
Treatment:
There is no cure for Narcolepsy and it is a chronic,
life-long disease but it is not physically life-threatening.
Treatment includes medication and lifestyle changes.
Some of the lifestyle changes that can be made to
better cope with Narcolepsy include:
- avoiding heavy meals before activities or eating
lighter, vegetarian meals
- scheduling brief 10-15 minute nap times after meals
- plan nap times around a daily routine to better
control your bodies' sleep schedule
Antidepressants have also been beneficial in reducing
the episodes of cataplexy and sleep paralysis. There
is a main course of medication involving drugs called
Central Nervous System Stimulants such as methylphenidate,
racemic-amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and/or modafinil
used to combat Narcolepsy symptoms as well.
There are newer and other medications used and being
studied, but I've opted not to include them in this
article since many are still under study. If you would
like more information about newer treatment options,
feel free to follow the links below (that's what they're
there for).
Prognosis:
Although there is no cure, with treatment and lifestyle
adjustments patients tend to live near-normal lives.
There are no physical complications, but uncontrolled
Narcolepsy could have other complications such as
falling asleep while driving, at work, social events,
etc. and can cause harm to the patient or others.
It is very important to use your treatment options
to control Narcolepsy symptoms to lessen harmful situations.
Support groups are also highly recommended as there
is an emotional toll of depression, feeling of "laziness"
and other esteem issues that can worsen the Narcolepsy
symptoms.
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