COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS
Narcolepsy
If you’re experiencing overwhelming drowsiness or sudden attacks of sleep during your daily routine, you might have narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic condition that can be managed with prescribed medication, lifestyle changes and support from family members, friends and colleagues.
Symptoms of narcolepsy include:
- Excessive daytime sleeping (i.e., falling asleep without warning at any time or place)
- Sleep paralysis
- Vivid hallucinations upon falling asleep or waking up
- Quick transitions into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
- Cataplexy, an uncontrollable condition typically triggered by strong emotions that can cause slurred speech and total muscle weakness for several minutes at a time
While narcolepsy does involve feelings of extreme drowsiness and sudden sleeping during the day, it can also lead to insomnia or disrupted sleeping at night.
Narcolepsy can occur in men and women equally and is estimated to affect one in 2,000 people, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Most instances of narcolepsy are sporadic with the origins somewhat unknown; however, some indicating factors can include autoimmune disorders, family history or brain injuries.
This sleep disorder often goes undiagnosed, so it’s important to talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of narcolepsy.
SLEEP STUDIES
Sleep studies assist in diagnosing a variety of conditions and disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and sleepwalking.
Maury Regional Health conducts sleep studies with physican referral at locations in Columbia, Lawnrenceburg, Lewisburg and Waynesboro. Call 931.490.REST (7378) or visit MauryRegional.com/Sleep-Centers for more information.