Symptoms of narcolepsy and self-diagnosis method (test)
narcolepsy symptoms
Narcolepsy is characterized by four characteristic symptoms: sleep attacks, that is, drowsiness during the day despite having enough sleep at night, cataplexy when the body loses strength when emotionally excited, scissors, and hallucinations in the mouth. It is a type of sleep disorder seen. Narcolepsy can cause significant disruption to daily life. It is a very dangerous disease, especially for those who make driving a profession. 기면증 자가진단
narcolepsy causes
Narcolepsy most often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, most often before the age of 30. It is related to the abnormality of hypocretin transmission in the central nervous system and is also caused by genetic factors. 좋은뉴스
How to diagnose narcolepsy
To diagnose narcolepsy, you stay in the sleep laboratory for 2 days and 1 night, and perform nighttime polysomnography and daytime tests in succession. The nighttime polysomnography checks for other sleep disorders that may cause drowsiness during the day, and the daytime test diagnoses severe daytime sleepiness and abnormal REM sleep symptoms. First, we will tell you how to self-diagnose. However, the most accurate way to diagnose is to go to the hospital, so please refer to it to some extent.
For the eight situations below, 0 points for not sleeping at all, 1 point for slightly waking up, and 3 points for waking up a lot, and if the total score exceeds 10 points, it is said that narcolepsy can be suspected.
1. When watching TV
2. Sitting for more than 1 hour in a car or bus
3. When you sit down and talk to someone
4. When you sit and read a book
5. In a car waiting for a signal
6. When you sit down after lunch
7. When sitting in a public place
8. When you lie down and rest in the afternoon
narcolepsy treatment
Narcolepsy is usually treated with medication. Usually, when drowsiness occurs during the day, stimulants are used, and antidepressant drugs are used for elastic seizures or sleep paralysis described above. If you feel drowsy even while taking the drug, it is important to take a nap for about 20 minutes and maintain a regular sleep habit at night. It is said that stimulants for narcolepsy can be safely used for a long period of time as they are safe and effective with few side effects.