For Narcolepsy diagnosis, in some cases a verbal history will be sufficient to diagnose the disorder. Careful questioning of the patient will usually dispel any doubts. Similar questioning of family members who have lived with the patient can provide further confirmation of the diagnosis. The presence of cataplexy is very highly suggestive of narcolepsy. The pervasive influence of the symptoms on all aspects of life make it extremely unlikely the patient and/or the family members could deceive or mislead a physician who has a clear understanding of the syndrome.

If doubts remain the patient should be refered to a sleep centre for polysomnographic testing by professionally trained specialists in the evaluation of sleep disorders. In the sleep centre patients will undergo tests to determine how rapidly they fall asleep. The type of sleep they enter into from consiousness will be recorded. Evidence that they pass directly into REM sleep (see ‘Causes’) is regarded as being positive for narcolepsy.

Testing for the tissue type associated with narcolepsy may be carried out. In the future it is possible that measurement of orexin (hypocretin) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid will become routine.

Via

Popularity: 1% [?]

Root cause of narcolepsy is still unknown. Currently, the general believe is that genetics accompanied by an environmental trigger of some sort—a virus, for example— may affect brain chemicals and contribute to the disorder.

Source

Popularity: 1% [?]

Although there is no known cure for narcolepsy, several medications help to control the symptoms. Stimulants are usually prescribed to treat EDS and sleep attacks, and usually control most other symptoms. In some cases certain anti-depressants taken at bedtime may be required to aid in control of cataplexy. Narcolepsy symptoms vary from person to person, as does response to medications; also both symptoms and response are likely to change at different times in life. The proper choice of medication and dosage requires careful attention to the person’s needs and responses, and close cooperation between patient and medical personnel. The medications used to control narcolepsy are usually very helpful but may cause some side effects.

Source

Popularity: 1% [?]

The principal symptoms of Narcolepsy are:

• excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS),
• cataplexy (loss of muscle tone),
• hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis,
• disrupted night-time sleep and automatic behaviour (being unaware of what you are doing).

A person suffering from narcolepsy may have some or all of these symptoms.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and other auxiliary symptoms. Narcolepsy impairs the ability of the central nervous system to regulate sleep. With people having narcolepsy, the messages carried by central nervous system about when to be asleep or awake are misguided and don’t make it to their proper destination, thereby impairing the individual’s ability to stay awake.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Insomnia or lack of adequate sleep includes any combination of difficulty with falling asleep, staying asleep, intermittent wakefulness, and early-morning awakening. This may be for a short-term (lasting 2 to 3 weeks). Illness, depression, anxiety, stress, poor sleeping environment, caffeine, abuse, alcoholism, heavy smoking, physical discomfort, daytime napping, certain medical conditions, and other sleeping habits like going to bed early, and excessive time spent awake in bed are common factors associated with insomnia.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Disorder of excessive sleepiness is called Hypersomnia. This includes symptoms of loss of breathing in between the sleep and it is called sleep apnea. This affects middle-aged men and causes excessive daytime sleepiness.

Popularity: 1% [?]

• Difficulty in falling asleep.
• Daytime drowsiness.
• Loud snoring.
• Feeling sleepy during the day.
• Fatigue.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Lower leg movements during sleep

Popularity: 1% [?]

More than 100 different disorders of sleeping and waking have been identified. They are put into four categories.

Insomnia.

Hypersomnias.

Problems with adhering to a regular sleep schedule.

Sleep disruptive behaviors.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep… wrote the famous English poet Robert Frost in his poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. As the poet reminds you about the promises you have to keep in life, it is also necessary that you get a sound sleep to keep those promises.

Sleep disorders are of different kinds and the reason behind each disorder varies. This may include difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive total sleep time or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep.

Popularity: 1% [?]