Narcolepsy is a relatively rare condition that causes patients to fall asleep suddenly without any prior warning; this is commonly known as having ‘sleep attacks’.
What causes narcolepsy?
The cause of narcolepsy remains unknown.
Symptoms of narcolepsy
As well as suddenly falling asleep, symptoms of narcolepsy include:
- Hallucinations
- Trouble staying awake
- Disrupted sleep during the night
- Lack of concentration
- Temporary loss of muscle movement
Treating narcolepsy
There is currently no cure for narcolepsy but there are steps that can be taken to ease symptoms; these include:
- Napping for short spells during the day
- Avoid stress: stress makes narcolepsy worse
- Exercise regularly
- Take medication; many doctors prescribe stimulants or antidepressants for people with narcolepsy