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Narcolepsy Help:
What is narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects sleep and wakefulness. People without narcolepsy experience cycles of NREM and REM sleep throughout the night. People who suffer from narcolepsy almost immediately go into REM sleep at the beginning of sleep, as well as during waking hours. They can experience dreams and muscle paralysis. The cause of narcolepsy is not known, but scientists have made progress toward identifying genes associated with it.
Symptoms of Narcolepsy may be excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy or muscle paralysis, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. Narcolepsy can only be diagnosed by a doctor. A clinical exam and medical history are important. There are several tests, including a polysomnogram and multiple sleep latency test. A polysomnogram is an overnight test and a multiple sleep latency tests is preformed during the day.
There is no cure for narcolepsy; however, most symptoms can be controlled by drug treatment. There has been a new narcolepsy medication approved for those who suffer from narcolepsy with cataplexy. This medication is called Xyrem. It helps people get a better night’s sleep and allows them to be less sleepy during the day. Lifestyle changes help to reduce symptoms. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, heavy metals, and nicotine, regulating sleep, having daytime naps, and normal exercise are important.
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Sleep Disorder Help