Narcolepsy is a rare type of sleeping sickness in which sufferers have an enormous need for sleep during the day and unintentionally nod off. Find out what other symptoms occur and whether narcolepsy can be treated.
The term sleeping sickness is also often used for the disease trypsanosomiasis, which is transmitted via the tsetse fly. Narcolepsy, on the other hand, is caused by a lack of orexin in those affected . The messenger substance is responsible for the sleep-wake regulation of our brain and ensures equally stable sleep phases and wake phases. If more of those nerve cells that produce orexin die, our sleep-wake cycle gets completely confused. It is still unclear why the nerve cells die in about 1 in 2,000 people , which is why it is also referred to as idiopathic hypersomnia. Genetic causes, infections and dysregulation of the immune system are suspected.
Table of Contents
Sleeping sickness: 3 symptoms of narcolepsy
1. Daytime sleepiness
Everyone knows the enormous urge to sleep after a full or almost sleepless night. However, if the extreme tiredness occurs for no apparent reason, narcolepsy could be behind it. In addition to the increased need for sleep, those affected also suffer from involuntary falling asleep. For example, it can happen that narcoleptics nod off in the middle of a conversation or during work. This main symptom is most evident during the day, but nocturnal disturbances can also occur. People with narcolepsy often wake up at night or experience very vivid, sometimes frightening dreams.
2. Kataplexie
So-called cataplexy is also a clear indication of narcolepsy. This is the temporary loss of all muscle tone . Sufferers suddenly become faint, drop an object, or fall themselves. During such cataplexy, the person is fully conscious but loses control of their muscles. This can also lead to relaxation of the facial muscles, which leads to slurred speech and disturbed vision or closed eyes. The weak phases can last from a few seconds to minutes. So-called sleep paralysis can also occur when falling asleep or waking up , in which those affected lie there completely paralyzed for seconds or minutes while being fully conscious.
3. Hallucinations
About a third of people with narcolepsy also report very vivid hallucinations, which can occur either when falling asleep (hypnagogic hallucinations) or when waking up (hypnopompic hallucinations). Those affected then hear, see or touch things that are not actually there. This is how you recognize narcolepsy >>
Treatment for narcolepsy
So far there is no cure for narcolepsy. However, the quality of life of those affected can be improved with the help of certain behavior changes and medications. In addition to the fixed planning of daytime sleep times such as an afternoon nap, psychostimulants and antidepressants also play a role. However, drug treatment must be tailored to the individual patient. In addition, those affected can use caffeinated beverages such as coffee or black and green tea in a targeted manner to feel more awake between scheduled rest periods. However, stimulants such as alcohol or cigarettes are not recommended, as they can increase the tendency to fall asleep.
