Narcolepsy: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a disease of the nervous system, in which sufferers can fall asleep anytime and anywhere uncontrollably. This desire to sleep can occur even though the patient has slept enough.

People with narcolepsy will experience tremendous sleepiness during the day. Patients will feel fine after falling asleep for 10-15 minutes, but the situation quickly disappears and they will fall asleep again.

In normal conditions, after entering the initial sleep stage for approximately 90 minutes, humans will sleep at that stage rapid eye movement (BRAKE). In people with this disease, it only takes about 15 minutes to enter the REM sleep stage.

This sudden sleep attack condition can occur while driving, working, or talking. Unfortunately, this disease is chronic or prolonged, so it cannot be completely treated. However, if you take proper care and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can take control of this situation.

There are 3 types of sleep attacks, namely narcolepsy with cataplex, without cataplex, and secondary narcolepsy.

How often do narcolepsy occur?

Narcolepsy is a fairly rare disease. It is estimated that 1 in 2,000 people suffer from this chronic disease.

Generally, this disease first appears when the patient is still a teenager. Then, this condition will last a lifetime.

Although the disease is often diagnosed in adolescent patients, the average age is around 20-40 years. In addition, this disease is also more common in male patients than female patients.

Narcolepsy is a disease that can be overcome by controlling the existing risk factors. To find out more information about this disease, you can consult a doctor.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a condition with signs and symptoms that vary from one patient to another. Generally, signs and symptoms first appear when the patient is a teenager. Then, the symptoms will worsen with the patient's age.

Depending on the severity, this disorder can interfere with the sufferer's daily activities, even affecting all aspects of the sufferer's life.

The following are signs and symptoms of narcolepsy:

1. Excessive daytime sleepiness

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or excessive daytime sleepiness can occur anytime and anywhere. This condition is also often referred to as drowsiness attacks.

If the sufferer experiences this condition, it is likely that there will be a decrease in body energy, difficulty remembering, deteriorating moods, and difficulty concentrating.

This condition can last from a few seconds to several minutes and often occurs after eating, talking to other people, or in other situations. This condition can occur repeatedly in a day.

2. Cataplex

Cataplexology is a condition where the muscles in the face, neck and knees are weakened. Some people experience mild muscle weakness. However, it is not uncommon for sufferers to lose their balance and fall frequently.

This condition is sometimes also accompanied by excessive emotional outbursts, such as laughter and anger. Cataplexology generally lasts 2 minutes or less.

3. Experiencing hallucinations

Hallucinations that are felt are generally quite strong and occur at the beginning or end of bedtime. Sometimes, hallucinations are terrifying, such as an out-of-body experience, hearing footsteps, or seeing a figure that doesn't exist.

4. Experiencing sleep paralysis

Sleep paralysis is a condition in which the sufferer is unable to move his body for a while. Condition sleep paralysis lasts briefly and occurs when the patient is going to sleep or has just woken up.

Some of the other symptoms you may feel include:

• Disorders of breathing during sleep (sleep apnea)
• Foot jerked unconsciously
• Excessive fatigue
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory problems
• Depression

There may be symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you feel the signs and symptoms mentioned above, especially if these symptoms are enough to interfere with your daily activities, consult a doctor immediately.

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition, check any symptoms you are experiencing to the doctor or the nearest health service center.

Cause

What causes narcolepsy ?

Narcolepsy is a disease whose cause is still not known until now. However, it is estimated that there are several health conditions associated with the emergence of this disease.

Sleep attack disorder with cataplex (type 1) is often associated with low levels of a brain chemical called hypocretin (orexin). Hypocretin is produced by neurons in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates sleep schedules, appetite, and body temperature.

Hypocretin plays an important role in regulating human sleep schedule. In addition, hypocretin also functions as a neurotransmitter, which is a compound that transmits signals from one nerve cell to another.

Experts believe that reduced hyproketin can affect the appearance of this disorder. Some narcolepsy sufferers have decreased hypocretin levels by 80-90 percent.

It is not known exactly what causes the decreased hypocretin levels. However, according to National Organization of Rare Disorders , it is possible that this condition is related to a genetic mutation in the body.

Some patients with this disease experience changes in T cell receptor genes. T cells play a role in the human immune system. This means that reduced hypocretin production could be the result of an autoimmune reaction.

In addition, narcolepsy is also linked to a family history, scientists have found several genes involved in the transmission of this disease to the next generation.

Risk factors

What are the factors that can increase your risk of developing narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a disease that can occur in almost anyone, regardless of age and racial group of the sufferer. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for developing the disease.

It is important for you to know that having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely be exposed to a disease or health condition.

In some cases, it is possible for a person to suffer from certain diseases or health conditions without any risk factors.

The following are risk factors that can trigger a person to develop narcolepsy:

1. Age

This disease is quite common in adolescent patients. However, the average age of patients diagnosed with this disease is around 20-40 years.

2. Gender

Although the cause is not yet known, this condition is more common in male patients than in women.

3. Have had an injury to the brain

If you've had an accident that resulted in injury or trauma to the brain, it is possible that this condition can affect the production of hypocretin by the brain. This puts you at a high risk of suffering from this disease.

Apart from brain injury due to accidents, other brain disorders such as brain tumors (intracranial), hardening of the brain arteries (arteriosclerosis), psychosis, depression, and hypothyroidism can increase a person's chances of experiencing drowsiness or attacks of drowsiness.

4. Having a disorder in the nervous system

If you have a disease related to a nervous system disorder, your risk for developing this disease is much higher.

5. Derivative conditions

If there are members of your family who suffer from this disease, it is likely that the disease can be passed on to other family members. That means, your risk for experiencing this disease can increase.

The absence of risk factors does not mean you cannot get this disease. These signs are for reference only. You should consult a specialist doctor for more information.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the common tests to diagnose narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a condition that can have its roots in a variety of health problems. If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, immediately consult a doctor to find out what is the main cause.

This condition is often misdiagnosed at the start of its appearance. Sometimes, the symptoms of this disease are mistaken for a psychological condition, sleep apnea , or other conditions.

To diagnose this disease accurately, the doctor will examine your health thoroughly, starting from asking about your sleep habits, physical examination, and the symptoms you feel and how long the symptoms last.

There are also other ways to make the correct diagnosis, such as:

1. Blood test

This test is done to find out if there are other diseases that are affecting your sleep cycle.

2. Genetic testing

With a genetic test, your doctor can find out whether the disease is caused by a genetic mutation or a genetic mutation from a member of your family.

3.Polysomnogram (PSG)

A polysomnogram or PSG is a one-night test that is performed to detect abnormalities in the patient's sleep cycle.

PSG can indicate a disturbance in the REM sleep stage that often occurs in people with this disease. In addition, the PSG test can distinguish the symptoms present from other diseases.

4. Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT)

The MLST test is performed during the day to see the patient's tendency to fall asleep, as well as how long it takes the patient to enter the REM sleep phase during the day.

In this test, the patient will be asked to take 5 short naps, with a time interval of 2 hours. Patients with this disease are usually able to sleep quickly between these breaks.

What are the treatment options for narcolepsy?

There are no methods and therapies to cure or control this disease. Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce sleep duration during the day and to help you sleep better at night.

Your doctor may also use some antidepressants to relieve symptoms such as hallucinations or 'incubus'. Simple steps such as exercising and avoiding caffeine and alcohol can also help.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes and home remedies that can treat narcolepsy?

Lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with narcolepsy are:

• Use drugs recommended by a doctor;
• Get adequate rest during the day whenever possible;
• Go to sleep and wake up on time. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep per day;
• Sports;
• Don't smoke, consume caffeine or alcohol.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.