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We joke about taking a quick snooze when our friends bore us with conversation, but imagine if you were so tired that you really could suddenly fall asleep? Moreover, picture feeling as if you can’t move upon waking or seeing vivid dreamlike hypnagogic hallucinations as you transition from sleep to wake or wake to sleep. Such is the reality of those affected by the sleep disorder, narcolepsy. • Despite the number of hours slept the night before, excessive fatigue can overtake a narcoleptic and affect their concentration, disrupt their nighttime sleep, create extreme irritability and in some cases prevent them from getting a driver’s license.
What is Narcolepsy? • Sleep disorders affect the way you sleep and can harm your health, quality of life, and safety. There are many different types ofsleep disorders and narcolepsy, although extremely rare, can significantly impact one’s life without proper treatment. • Narcolepsy is the intrusion of REM sleep into your day. People with narcolepsy experience a strong desire for REM sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep, and will unexpectedly fall into REM sleep during the day. REM usually occurs one to two hours into sleep. However, those with narcolepsy can enter REM in 15 minutes.
Signs or Symptoms of Narcolepsy • Daytime sleepiness is a hallmark of narcolepsy. Those affected may randomly fall asleep at their desk or while watching television at home. When they wake, they feel refreshed, yet the feelings of lethargy return. • Cataplexy, sudden physical changes from slurred speech to weakness of muscles, often accompanied by laughter is linked to narcolepsy. • Sleep paralysis. Some people may experience momentary immobility of sleep paralysis. • Hypnagogic hallucinations occur as you fall asleep or upon waking. Such visions may be particularly vivid and alarming. • REM typically occurs at a later stage of sleep yet those with narcolepsy can transition into the dream stage of sleep within 15 minutes.
