Just Tired and Sleepy During the Day or is it Narcolepsy?

Do you ever feel really tired and sleepy during the day? Do you just have to take a nap at your desk or pull over if you are driving? That daytime fatigue may be the result of working late, lack of sleep or stress that interrupted your sleep the previous night. If a short nap or some rest is all you need, then you’re fine.

However, if you have narcolepsy, you could fall asleep during the day often and without any warning. You may still fall asleep during the day despite getting plenty of sleep at night.

You gulp down several cups of coffee and no matter how hard you try to fight off the sleepiness; you still can’t force yourself to stay awake. You may be the victim of crude jokes and criticized at work for being lazy because most people are not aware of narcolepsy and its symptoms.

You know you are not lazy and neither are you faking your symptoms. What you have is a real medical disorder called narcolepsy. If you are not diagnosed correctly and treated properly, this condition can worsen, interfere with your job, social life and severely limit normal activities like driving.

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia. The condition is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in which a person experiences extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as at work or school.

What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS): This is the most common characteristic where the person often feels drowsy or fall asleep throughout the day even after adequate nighttime sleep. This urge to sleep may be physically impossible to resist and can occur at inappropriate times and places.
• Cataplexy: This is an episodic condition where there is loss of muscle function, ranging from slight weakness (such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or inability to speak clearly) to complete collapse of the body.
• Sleep paralysis: This is a temporary inability to talk or move while falling asleep or waking up. It may last a few seconds to minutes. It is often frightening but is not dangerous.
• Hypnagogic hallucinations: These vivid, often frightening, dreamlike experiences occur while dozing, falling asleep and/or while awakening.

Who is at risk of being affected by narcolepsy?

It is estimated that as many as 3 million people worldwide are affected by narcolepsy. In the United States, it is estimated that this condition afflicts as many as 200,000 Americans. Narcolepsy usually begins between the ages of 15 and 25, but it can manifest itself at any age. In many cases, narcolepsy is undiagnosed (fewer than 50,000 are diagnosed) and, therefore, left untreated.

Although the exact cause of narcolepsy is still not known, researches have discovered a strong link between narcoleptic individuals and certain genetic conditions. Narcolepsy seems to occur 8-12% more often in families with at least one close relative with this condition.

How is narcolepsy diagnosed?

The most common symptom of narcolepsy is EDS and it is not exclusive to this condition. Proper diagnosis requires a thorough clinical exam and a comprehensive medical history.

Polysomnogram (PSG) and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) are two essential tests for confirming narcolepsy. These medical tests are interpreted by a physician who specializes in sleep disorders.

How is narcolepsy treated?

Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, prescription drugs can control symptoms of EDS and cataplexy. Abnormal sleep patterns may be treated by antidepressant medications.

You can help yourself by making certain lifestyle changes such as limiting or avoiding caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and heavy meals. Go to sleep at a regular time everyday, don’t work late or too close to bedtime and exercise regularly.

The key here is to explain your condition and symptoms to your family, friends, colleagues and your boss at work. You want people close to you to understand that your daytime sleepiness is not laziness or lacking of motivation but a real medical problem called narcolepsy.

Books about narcolepsy:

Related posts:

1. Tired but Can’t Sleep? 5 Tips to Falling Asleep Faster
2. Sleep Apnea is a More Serious Problem Than Just Snoring