Narcolepsy: A Rare but Serious Sleep Disorder

It is estimated that around 70 million people in the United States suffer from a sleep disorder. Insomnia is the most common disorder, and sleep apnea is the second most common. Much rarer — but just as serious — is narcolepsy. Let’s talk about what narcolepsy in Vero Beach is, how you can recognize its symptoms, and why getting a proper diagnosis is so important.

What Is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a neurological condition that causes its victims to become drowsy and fall asleep at unexpected times. These “sleep attacks,” as they are often called, are extremely dangerous because they can happen at any time and during any activity, including driving, walking, and eating. A person with narcolepsy has no power to stop the attacks.

There are two types of narcolepsy: NT1 and NT2. People with NT1 have low levels of a certain chemical in their bodies, while people with NT2 have normal levels of that same chemical.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy

Of course, while sleep attacks are a main characteristic of narcolepsy, it can also manifest itself in other symptoms, including:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness. This is generally present no matter how much sleep a person receives.
• Cataplexy. Cataplexy is a sudden loss of muscle tone. Mild cataplexy can be as simple as a person’s eyelids drooping, while severe cataplexy can cause their body to collapse entirely. This symptom is more common in people with NT1 than in those with NT2.
• Automatic behavior. A person who experiences a sleep attack may continue doing the activity they were participating in when they fell asleep.
• Sleep paralysis. This is the inability to move while drifting off to sleep or waking up.
• Other sleep-related symptoms. These may include insomnia, poor sleep quality, restless leg movements, and hallucinations while fall asleep or waking up.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Sadly, narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed because it shares symptoms with other sleep disorders and some psychiatric conditions. Usually, in order to properly diagnose narcolepsy, a patient has to undergo basic sleep testing in Vero Beach as well as a multiple sleep latency test (which measures how quickly someone falls asleep in quiet surroundings). In-depth questionnaires and other observational diagnostic methods may also be used.

Once narcolepsy is diagnosed, a sleep doctor can recommend a treatment. Some individuals respond well to medications, while others should focus primarily on lifestyle adjustments. Things like taking short scheduled naps, not smoking, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine, and exercising daily may all help. Unfortunately, there is no cure for narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder. If you suspect that you have it, seeking a proper diagnosis could be the first step on your path to feeling and functioning better.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Kenneth Mogell has more than a decade of experience in dental sleep medicine. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. If you suspect that you have narcolepsy or another sleep disorder, he can help you arrange for testing. Contact our Vero Beach office at 772-882-6800.