Most people don't actually know what to look for in narcolepsy symptoms. Plenty of folks will joke about being narcoleptic, or about their friends being narcoleptic, when they're having trouble staying awake due to exhaustion or other factors. In fact, there is absolutely no correlation between everyday exhaustion and the actual disorder.
A narcoleptic's brain is definitively incapable of managing normal sleep-wake cycles. Narcoleptics can fall asleep many times throughout the day, regardless of what is going on. These "naps" can be as quick as a few seconds or a few minutes. Within five minutes of a sleep attack beginning, a narcoleptic enters the REM cycle; for a normal sleeper, this takes at least eighty minutes. There is a popular theory that narcoleptics sleep more than everyone else; however, this is not the case - they often have a lot of trouble getting a good night's sleep. Below is an overview of the three major side effects of this disorder.
The first and most common clue to narcolepsy symptoms is excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS. Its attributes include depressive moods, general exhaustion, an inability to concentrate, and a susceptibility to sleep attacks. Classes, meetings, and other situations that require passive participation are all big triggers of the condition. When EDS results in a sleep attack, the sufferer wakes up feeling refreshed and continues to feel so for a few hours.
The second thing to watch for in narcolepsy symptoms is cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone and voluntary muscle control. It is an unsettling experience that makes sufferers feel completely helpless. Ranging in seriousness from a minor twitch to a full-body collapse, a cataplectic episode occurs during a narcoleptic's waking cycle. What's more, the narcoleptic does not get to pass out for this episode; he or she is conscious for the entire duration. Often, cataplexy is mistaken for epilepsy, even by medical professionals, as it has characteristics similar to a seizure. Cataplexy can occur randomly, though it is usually triggered by strong emotional reactions, the most common of which is laughter.
Number three of the three main parts of narcolepsy symptoms is sleep paralysis. Much like cataplexy, it involves a loss of muscle control, experienced by a fully alert victim. However, rather than taking place during the waking cycle, sleep paralysis occurs when the narcoleptic is falling asleep. The victim of sleep paralysis experiences a full-body loss of control, and is unable to move or speak.
A narcoleptic's brain is definitively incapable of managing normal sleep-wake cycles. Narcoleptics can fall asleep many times throughout the day, regardless of what is going on. These "naps" can be as quick as a few seconds or a few minutes. Within five minutes of a sleep attack beginning, a narcoleptic enters the REM cycle; for a normal sleeper, this takes at least eighty minutes. There is a popular theory that narcoleptics sleep more than everyone else; however, this is not the case - they often have a lot of trouble getting a good night's sleep. Below is an overview of the three major side effects of this disorder.
The first and most common clue to narcolepsy symptoms is excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS. Its attributes include depressive moods, general exhaustion, an inability to concentrate, and a susceptibility to sleep attacks. Classes, meetings, and other situations that require passive participation are all big triggers of the condition. When EDS results in a sleep attack, the sufferer wakes up feeling refreshed and continues to feel so for a few hours.
The second thing to watch for in narcolepsy symptoms is cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone and voluntary muscle control. It is an unsettling experience that makes sufferers feel completely helpless. Ranging in seriousness from a minor twitch to a full-body collapse, a cataplectic episode occurs during a narcoleptic's waking cycle. What's more, the narcoleptic does not get to pass out for this episode; he or she is conscious for the entire duration. Often, cataplexy is mistaken for epilepsy, even by medical professionals, as it has characteristics similar to a seizure. Cataplexy can occur randomly, though it is usually triggered by strong emotional reactions, the most common of which is laughter.
Number three of the three main parts of narcolepsy symptoms is sleep paralysis. Much like cataplexy, it involves a loss of muscle control, experienced by a fully alert victim. However, rather than taking place during the waking cycle, sleep paralysis occurs when the narcoleptic is falling asleep. The victim of sleep paralysis experiences a full-body loss of control, and is unable to move or speak.
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Narcolepsy definition and facts are necessary to understand your sleep disorder. Seeking for fact about narcolepsy symptoms is important to help you live with your condition. If you require more information on the matter, browse this link.