Narcolepsy can be an enemy to those who suffer from it, as it may turn life into an involuntary coma. In the following lines, we will learn the details of this mysterious disorder with Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, and explore the symptoms, causes, and ways to deal with it. Continue reading to learn more details.

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that negatively affects the ability of the brain, and affects the normal regulation of sleep and wake cycles. It leads to sudden and uncontrolled sleep attacks during daylight hours. Those affected suffer from extreme sleepiness throughout the day, even after adequate sleep at night. It can be accompanied by sleep paralysis, hallucinations upon waking or falling asleep, and sudden loss of muscle tension. The disorder affects daily life, and thus difficulty in working or studying. The disease requires accurate medical diagnosis and a treatment plan that includes

Causes of narcolepsy 

Its causes are due to disorders in the nervous system, in which there is a deficiency of hypocretin, which is a chemical responsible for regulating sleep and wakefulness cycles. The reasons are as follows: 

• Genetic factors: There may be a hereditary predisposition to the disease.
• Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks hypocretin-producing cells in the brain.
• Brain injuries such as head injuries or brain tumors affecting areas that control sleep.
• Viral infections or psychological stress play a major role in stimulating the appearance of symptoms in susceptible people.

Symptoms of narcolepsy

The most prominent symptoms associated with this disease are as follows:

• Excessive sleepiness during daylight hours, where the patient feels extremely sleepy that is difficult for him to resist even after getting enough sleep at night.
• Feeling sudden sleep attacks that occur unexpectedly, even in the middle of daily activities.
• Numbness is a sudden loss of muscle tone, usually caused by strong emotions such as anger or laughter.
• Suffering from sleep paralysis, which means the inability to move or speak when sleeping or upon waking.
• Difficulty sleeping at night or when waking up early.

Read also: My experience with sleep disorders How did you break the chains of insomnia?

Treatment for narcolepsy

In fact, there is no definitive cure for the disease, but the symptoms can be controlled and managed through a number of different therapeutic methods, which include the following:

• Pharmacological treatment, where stimulant medications help reduce excessive sleepiness during daytime hours and contribute to improving alertness. The use of antidepressant medications also helps in treating numbness, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and sodium oxybate helps improve nighttime sleep.
• Changing lifestyle, by taking a short nap ranging between 10 minutes and 20 minutes several times during the day, which can help reduce drowsiness. In addition, it is important to maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, with the necessity of exercising regularly, and following a healthy diet.

Also, cognitive behavioral therapy can deal with the psychological symptoms of the disease, such as anxiety and depression, and joining a support group for affected people can help control the symptoms.

Learn about: Sleep disturbance in the child | الأسباب والأنواع والعلاج

Risk factors for narcolepsy

The exact cause of the disease is still unknown, but there are a number of risk factors that increase the probability of developing the disease. The main risk factors are as follows:

• Some studies indicate that some people have a genetic predisposition to the disease, and they are those who have a family history of the disease.
• Also, a lack of hypocretin in the brain is a major factor in the disease, and this chemical plays a major role in regulating sleep-wake cycles.
• Researchers believe that this disease is linked to autoimmune disorders, where the immune system attacks brain cells that produce hypocretin, which causes narcolepsy.
• Various environmental factors contribute to the development of myrrh, such as infection and influenza, trauma such as head injury, and changes in hormones, especially during puberty or pregnancy.

Complications of narcolepsy

Like any other mental illness, it can have many complications, and the complications affect different aspects of the patient’s life, which include the following:

• Sudden sleep attacks, especially when driving or operating machinery, which increases the risk of accidents and injury.
• Lack of physical activity and thus obesity.
• Other sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea.
• Feeling frustrated or isolated, thus increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.
• Affecting the ability to concentrate and memory, thus negatively affecting academic and professional performance.
• Feeling embarrassed or ashamed due to unexpected symptoms of the disease, and thus low self-esteem.
• Impact on personal relationships.
• Impact on a person’s performance in his work or studies, and the situation may lead to failure in studies or loss of his job.
• Avoid social activities due to a sudden sleep attack. 

Rafah Center for Mental Health

من خلال Rafah Center for Mental Health Integrated treatments are provided to help Narcolepsy patients control symptoms and improve the lives of those affected. The center relies on accurate diagnosis of the condition, through clinical examinations and sleep studies, and then a customized treatment plan is developed that includes drug treatment and lifestyle changes, along with the use of behavioral therapy, which helps patients regulate sleep and wake cycles during the day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get rid of narcolepsy?

There is no final treatment, however there are a number of methods that help manage the symptoms of the disease. These methods include drug treatment and the use of stimulant medications such as armodafinil, antidepressant medications, and sodium oxybate, with the necessity of changing lifestyle. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help in dealing with the psychological symptoms of the disease such as anxiety or depression. It is also important to be sure to join a support group for people with the disease.

Does depression cause narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy and depression are two different disorders, but they can sometimes overlap. Depression is often accompanied by sleep disorders such as insomnia or hypersomnia. It should be noted that depression in and of itself does not cause narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Some people with narcolepsy can suffer from symptoms of depression. Feeling frustrated causes excessive sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, and difficulty participating in social and work activities.

Is too much sleep considered a disease?

Yes, too much sleep can be a sign of a health problem, whether it is a physical sign or a psychological sign. The possible reasons for too much sleep are as follows:

• Sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea.
• Mental health problems such as depression or bipolar disorder.
• Physical health problems such as hypothyroidism, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, infections, obesity.
• Taking some medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, which can cause drowsiness.

Has anyone recovered from narcolepsy?

This disease is considered a chronic disorder and there is not yet a definitive cure for it, but many patients are able to control the symptoms and improve their lives through several methods, including drug treatments, lifestyle modifications, and behavioral therapy. Some people notice a significant improvement in the condition when adhering to the treatment plan, such as regulating sleep, avoiding triggers, and using medications. Therefore, although complete recovery is not possible in the current period, patients can live a normal life when the symptoms are managed effectively.

The Rafah Center for Mental Health, affiliated with Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, provides comprehensive support from psychologists and neurologists to follow up on the condition, ensure its improvement, and help patients perform daily tasks effectively, while minimizing the impact of the disorder on life. Book an appointment for an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.

المصادر والمراجع: 

Narcolepsy – mayoclinic

Narcolepsy – clevelandclinic