![]() ![]() Associated with the EEG observed waves during REM sleep muscle atonia is present (called REM atonia). This sleep state, called REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep), is when most remembered dreaming occurs. After about an hour and a half of NREM sleep, the brain waves begin to show a more active pattern again. ![]() This sleep state is called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. When a person first falls asleep, the brain waves become slower and less regular. Normally, when an individual is awake, brain waves show a regular rhythm. The symptoms of narcolepsy, especially the excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, often become severe enough to cause serious problems in a person's social, personal, and professional life. Use of self-medications such as energy drinks, or caffeinated drinks.The excessive daytime sleepiness generally persists throughout life, but sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations may not.Īlthough these are the common symptoms of narcolepsy, many (although less than 40% of people with narcolepsy) also suffer from insomnia for extended periods of time. Only about 20 to 25 percent of people with narcolepsy experience all four symptoms. There are wide variations in the development, severity, and order of appearance of cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations in individuals. The other symptoms may begin alone or in combination months or years after the onset of the daytime naps. In most cases, the first symptom of narcolepsy to appear is excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness. The opposite of this situation (failure to activate this protective paralysis) occurs in rapid eye movement behavior disorder Cataplexy is generally considered to be unique to narcolepsy and is analogous to sleep paralysis in that the usually protective paralysis mechanism occurring during sleep is inappropriately activated. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of people with narcolepsy experience automatic behavior during sleep episodes.ĭaytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations also occur in people who do not have narcolepsy, more frequently in people who are suffering from extreme lack of sleep. Automatic behavior means that a person continues to function (talking, putting things away, etc.) during sleep episodes, but awakens with no memory of performing such activities. Hypnagogic hallucinations are vivid, often frightening, dreamlike experiences that occur while dozing, falling asleep and/or while awakening. This is often frightening but is not dangerous. Sleep paralysis is the temporary inability to talk or move when waking (or less often, falling asleep). The person remains conscious throughout the episode. Episodes may be triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter, anger, surprise, or fear, and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. Cataplexy is an episodic condition featuring 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 body collapse. In addition, night-time sleep may be fragmented with frequent awakenings.įour other "classic" symptoms of narcolepsy, which may not occur in all patients, are cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnogogic hallucinations, and automatic behavior. Drowsiness may persist for prolonged periods of time. They are typically refreshing, but only for a few hours. These naps can occur several times a day. Daytime naps may occur without warning and may be physically irresistible. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. The main characteristic of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), even after adequate night time sleep. ![]()
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