Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a rare long-term brain disorder that causesa person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times.
The brain is unable to regulate sleeping and waking patterns normally, which can result in:
Narcolepsy doesn't cause serious or long-term physical health problems, but itcan have a significant impact on daily life and be difficult to cope with emotionally.
It's difficult to know exactly how many people have narcolepsy because many cases are thought to go unreported.
However, it's estimated the condition affects at least 25,000 people in the UK.
Men and women are thought to be affected equally by narcolepsy, although some studies havesuggestedthe condition may be more common in men.
The symptoms often begin during adolescence, although the condition is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.
Make an appointment to see your GP if you think you may have narcolepsy. Theymay ask about your sleeping habits and any other symptoms you have.
They may also carry out tests to help rule out other conditions that couldbe causing your excessive daytime sleepiness, such as sleep apnoea , restless legs in bed and kicking during sleep, or an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) .
If necessary,you'll be referredto aspecialist in sleep disorders, who will analyseyour sleep patterns. This will usually involve staying overnight in a specialist sleep centre so various aspects of your sleep can be monitored.
This may be difficult when you're atwork or school, but your GP or specialistmay be able to devise a sleep schedule that will help you get into a routine of taking naps.
Keepingto a strict bedtime routine can also help, so you should go to bed at the same time each night whenever possible.
If your symptoms are particularly troublesome, you may be prescribed medication that can help reduce daytime sleepiness, prevent cataplexy attacks and improve your sleep at night.
These medications are usually taken as daily tablets, capsules or drinkable solutions.
This helps scientists look for better ways to prevent and treat this condition. You can opt out of the register at any time.
Find out what narcolepsy is, including information about symptoms and causes, plus how it's diagnosed and treated.
Read about the symptoms of narcolepsy, including excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep attacks, cataplexy and sleep paralysis.
Find out what causes narcolepsy. In many cases it's thought to be caused by a lack of the brain chemical hypocretin, also known as orexin, which regulates sleep.
Find out how narcolepsy is diagnosed by observing how you sleep and ruling out other conditions.
Find out what you can do to manage the symptoms of narcolepsy and minimise their impact on your daily life. For example, ensuring good sleeping habits can help.