Could I have Narcolepsy?
Only a clinical sleep study can determine whether someone has Narcolepsy. If you feel that you may have Narcolepsy please make an appointment with your doctor as soon as practicable.
There are four main symptoms of Narcolepsy:-
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness - This is the overwhelming tiredness felt throughtout the day resulting in the inability to stay awake.
Cataplexy - sudden loss of muscle tone, ranging from slight weakness such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or inability to speak clearly to complete body collapse. Episodes may be triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter, happiness, joy, surprise, anger or fear,and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. The person remains conscious throughout the episode.
Hypnogognic Hallucinations - vivid, often frightening, dreamlike experiences that occur while dozing,
falling asleep and/or while awakening.
Sleep Paralysis - the temporary inability to talk or move when waking or when falling asleep. It may last a few seconds to minutes. This is often frightening but is not dangerous
In 1991 Dr Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital developed a test, "The Epworth Sleepiness Scale" (E.S.S.) to enable a person to rate their own level of sleepiness. If a person scores 10 or more on the E.S.S. they should take the completed form to their doctor to discuss the possibility of a sleep disorder.
There are four main symptoms of Narcolepsy:-
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness - This is the overwhelming tiredness felt throughtout the day resulting in the inability to stay awake.
Cataplexy - sudden loss of muscle tone, ranging from slight weakness such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or inability to speak clearly to complete body collapse. Episodes may be triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter, happiness, joy, surprise, anger or fear,and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. The person remains conscious throughout the episode.
Hypnogognic Hallucinations - vivid, often frightening, dreamlike experiences that occur while dozing,
falling asleep and/or while awakening.
Sleep Paralysis - the temporary inability to talk or move when waking or when falling asleep. It may last a few seconds to minutes. This is often frightening but is not dangerous
In 1991 Dr Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital developed a test, "The Epworth Sleepiness Scale" (E.S.S.) to enable a person to rate their own level of sleepiness. If a person scores 10 or more on the E.S.S. they should take the completed form to their doctor to discuss the possibility of a sleep disorder.
