8 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Narcolepsy

When it comes to narcolepsy, education and understanding are essential. Below is a series of enlightening facts about narcolepsy, as told by reality television star Katie Morton.

1. Narcolepsy is a serious neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

It's common for those living with narcolepsy to wake in the morning feeling refreshed. Throughout the day, however, they experience overwhelming bouts of sleepiness.

2. There isn't just one type of narcolepsy.

Type 1 narcolepsy and type 2 narcolepsy are the two major types of the disorder; the former includes excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, while the latter does not include cataplexy.

3. Type 1 narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, which is sudden muscle weakness usually triggered by strong emotions.

Those with type 1 narcolepsy have low levels of the brain hormone hypocretin.

4. Quick onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep can be telling.

Normally, a person enters REM sleep after about an hour to an hour and a half of falling asleep, while people with narcolepsy may enter REM sleep within 15 minutes.

5. Two sleep lab tests are needed to confirm a narcolepsy diagnosis.

To confirm a diagnosis of narcolepsy, a sleep specialist will have a patient stay overnight at a sleep lab to conduct two tests: an overnight polysomnogram (PSG) and a daytime multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) the following day.

6. Symptoms vary from person to person.

All people with narcolepsy experience sudden bouts of sleep, which can occur at incredibly inconvenient times; some also face symptoms such as hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up and sleep paralysis, among others.

7. Awareness and understanding of narcolepsy are low, but resources to learn about the symptoms and diagnosis are available.

Resources like MoreThanTired.com can help people learn about narcolepsy and its symptoms.

8. Stereotypes and misrepresentations of the disorder have led to a general misunderstanding of how narcolepsy truly impacts those living with it.

This is why education is so important.

All imagery courtesy of Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

This post reflects the personal experiences of Katie Morton, and she has been compensated by Jazz Pharmaceuticals for her participation. Other people’s experiences may differ.

Supplementary information in the above post is derived from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Learn more about narcolepsy at MoreThanTired.com, and check out Katie Morton discussing her own experience with narcolepsy below:

video-player.buzzfeed.com

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