7. Brain Fog
Brain fog is a condition that affects the ability of a person to think clearly. It can lead to memory problems, lack of concentration, and difficulty making decisions.
The causes of brain fog are many and sleep deprivation is one of them. Brain fog can be caused by an underlying medical condition, stress, and depression.
6. Lack of Muscle Tone
The primary cause of narcolepsy is the loss of hypocretin-producing neurons. These neurons regulate the sleep and wake states of the body.
However, these neurons are also responsible for coordinating muscles. So, when the hypocretin-producing neurons are missing, people with narcolepsy will most likely experience a lack of muscle tone. Hence, the individual’s motor control system becomes unstable.
5. Excessive Dreaming
Excessive dreaming is caused by the Sleep Onset REM Periods, also known as SOREMPs. This is a condition where the individual experiences REM immediately after falling asleep.
Under normal circumstances, an individual experiences REM an hour or two after falling asleep. Since people with narcolepsy experience REM immediately after falling asleep, they end up having excessive dreaming. In most cases, their excessive dreaming seems so real. It’s almost too scary for them,
4. Sleep Paralysis
When a person has sleep paralysis, he or she is unable to move or speak while sleeping. The condition can be frightening and can have a negative impact on the quality of life of people affected by it.
Sleep paralysis happens when a person wakes up as they are going into or coming out of REM sleep. Since people with narcolepsy also suffer from REM sleep issues, they end up waking up in the middle of the night. When they do, they experience sleep paralysis.
This is because narcolepsy is characterized by unstable wakefulness and unstable sleep.
Doctors don’t know why some people get the disorder. However, they do know that it can cause a lot of disruption to a person’s life. In some cases, the condition can also lead to depression and insomnia.
3. Anxiety
People with narcolepsy can suffer from social isolation and anxiety due to their condition. While narcolepsy is a physical condition, it can also have an effect on the sufferer’s mental health.
Hypocretin neurons are linked to the sleep centers in the brain. This may help explain the association between narcolepsy and anxiety.
2. Headaches
Studies have found that patients with narcolepsy have a higher rate of reporting headaches. This is thought to be a result of their sleep problems and impaired quality of life.
Hypocretin, a neuropeptide produced in the central nervous system, has been found to be associated with migraine and other headache disorders. It may have a role in headaches because it is involved in the processing of pain.
1. Mood Swings
Sleep is believed to recharge the brain. It also helps maintain the health and function of the body and mind. Total sleep deprivation disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. Hence, lack of sleep can result in mood swings and anxiety.
The amygdala, an area of the brain associated with emotions, plays a vital role in the body’s sleep mechanisms. When deprived of sleep, the amygdala’s ability to suppress its exaggerated responses to stimuli is reduced. This decreases emotional resilience to negative events.
Narcolepsy Testing
Narcolepsy is diagnosed by a doctor or a sleep specialist after a medical history, a physical examination, and a sleep study. Laboratory tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis of the disorder.
You may need to undergo a polysomnography test, which measures electrical activity in your brain, heart, and muscles. During a test, you will spend an overnight stay at a medical facility.
During a sleep study, a patient lies in a dark room while a technician records the brain waves, heart rate, eye movements, and other body functions.
The goal of the test is to determine the severity of the symptoms and to determine if they are caused by a sleep disorder or by an underlying condition.
Treatments And Care
Having narcolepsy can be a debilitating condition. People with the condition often suffer from poor sleep, fragmented sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy treatment can help patients regulate their sleeping patterns and improve their quality of life.
Narcolepsy is a condition that affects the quality of life of those who have it. It can interfere with professional, academic, and social activities.
This condition can be deadly if ignored or left untreated. For example, a narcoleptic’s sleepiness can be dangerous, especially in the car.
If a narcoleptic falls asleep while driving at high speed on a highway, they could end up being involved in a serious automobile accident.
Fortunately, there are treatments for narcolepsy. Below are narcolepsy treatments worth knowing.
8. Keep A Regular Sleep Schedule
Narcolepsy patients should follow a strict sleep schedule. This means that they have to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Keeping a regular sleep schedule will help the patient to manage symptoms. It will also help the patient to feel more energized. The patient also has more chances of sleeping more hours if he or she keeps a regular sleep schedule.
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