Treatment for narcolepsy helps fight the urge to sleep

Imagine having an urge to sleep that is so strong one falls asleep while typing a memo or just as the golf club is about to hit the ball. For many Americans, these examples are all too real. They have narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate the cycles of going to sleep and staying awake. The primary symptom of narcolepsy, excessive sleepiness, frequently prevents them from remaining alert and awake consistently throughout the day.

People with narcolepsy can fall asleep without warning for a few seconds to an hour or longer. If left untreated, this inability to stay awake and remain alert can have a major impact on their lives, resulting in accidents, self-injury and social problems.

Narcolepsy occurs in approximately one in every 2,000 Americans, more than 35,000 individuals. It is often misdiagnosed, and many patients suffer with narcolepsy symptoms for 10 to 15 years before an accurate diagnosis is made. One of the reasons for the delayed diagnosis may be that excessive sleepiness is not unique to narcolepsy and can be associated with a wide range of medical conditions, including depression, viral infections, congestive heart failure or the side effects of medications.

In addition to excessive sleepiness, another less common symptom of narcolepsy is cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone that leads to feelings of weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control. Cataplexy affects approxi mately 70 percent of narcolepsy patients and is often triggered by a strong emotion such as laughter, anger or surprise. Patients with narcolepsy may avoid social situations and become socially isolated.

There is no cure for narcolepsy, but treatment options are typically effective at improving symptoms. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, medication is the standard of treatment for excessive sleepiness, the most common and debilitating symptom associated with narcolepsy. Although medication does not cure narcolepsy, has no effect on cataplexy and is not meant to replace sleep, it can help people stay awake when they need to be awake and allows them to sleep when they want to sleep.

In addition to medication, short naps during the day and regular exercise may help control sleepiness and maintain alertness. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bedtime can also help. People with sleep disorders should always be careful about doing things that could be dangerous, including driving a car.

Anyone experiencing excessive sleepiness may be suffering from narcolepsy. The first step in obtaining an accurate diagnosis is to talk to a doctor about the symptoms.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.