Definition
Narcolepsy
is a chronic sleep disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles.
People with narcolepsy experience periods of extreme daytime sleepiness and
sudden, irresistible bouts of sleep that can strike at any time. These
“sleep attacks” usually last a few seconds to several minutes.
Contrary to common beliefs, people with
narcolepsy do not spend a substantially greater proportion of their time asleep
during a 24-hour period than do normal sleepers. In addition to daytime
drowsiness and uncontrollable sleep episodes, most individuals also experience
poor sleep quality that can involve frequent waking during nighttime sleep, and
other sleep disorders.
Narcolepsy affects both males and female equally
and appears throughout the world. Symptoms often start in childhood or
adolescence, but can occur later in life. The condition is
life-long.
Symptoms of Narcolepsy
In most cases, symptoms first appear when people are between the
ages of 7 and 25. In rare cases, however, narcolepsy may appear at
younger age or in older adults. These symptoms include:
Excessive Daytime Sleep (EDS).
EDS is experienced by almost all individuals with
narcolepsy and is usually the first to become clinically apparent. Generally, EDS interferes with normal activities on a daily basis, whether or
not individuals had sufficient sleep at night. People with EDS describe
it as a persistent sense of mental cloudiness, a lack of energy, a depressed
mood, or extreme exhaustion with others experiencing memory lapses, and
many have great difficulty maintaining their concentration while at school,
work, or home.
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