In a normal sleep cycle, a person enters rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in 60 to 90 minutes. Dreams occur during this time, and the brain keeps muscles limp, preventing one from acting out in dreams. However, some individuals experience a chronic neurological condition affecting the brain’s ability to control these sleep-wake cycles, called narcolepsy. It triggers rapid REM sleep and may cause dreaming or muscle weakness. Let’s know its symptoms, causes, and treatment methods.

Symptoms
The symptoms of narcolepsy may worsen during the initial years and can also be chronic.

• People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, and it could happen anywhere or at any time. For example, one might be working or talking with friends and suddenly fall asleep. The individual might fall asleep for a few minutes or up to half an hour. While one might feel refreshed after waking up, they may also get sleepy quickly.
• Some individuals with narcolepsy might experience cataplexy, which is the sudden loss of muscle tone or complete weakness of most muscles. The symptoms cannot be controlled and might be triggered by positive emotions. For instance, when an individual laughs, they may lose control of their muscles, which may cause their head to drop. Sometimes, the knees may suddenly lose strength, causing them to fall.
• Sleep paralysis is another common symptom where the person cannot move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking. The sign may last for a few seconds or minutes.
• People with narcolepsy may experience hallucinations either during sleep paralysis or while in bed without experiencing sleep paralysis. These hallucinations are known as hypnagogic hallucinations if they occur while falling asleep and hypnopompic hallucinations if they happen when waking up. Since one may not be fully asleep when these hallucinations occur, they can be vivid and frightening.

Causes
The exact cause of narcolepsy is yet to be determined. Experts believe that people with type 1 narcolepsy have low levels of hypocretin, also called orexin. This is a chemical in the brain that helps control being awake and when you enter REM sleep. However, the level of hypocretin is low in people who experience cataplexy. While the exact cause of the chemical loss in the brain is unknown, experts suggest it is due to an autoimmune reaction, which is when the body’s immune system destroys its cells. There are risk factors that might also trigger narcolepsy. People between 10 and 30 are more likely to experience the condition. Furthermore, those with a family history of narcolepsy are 20 to 40 times at higher risk of developing it.

Treatment options
The treatments for narcolepsy are intended to help one manage their symptoms. Experts may recommend stimulants as the primary treatment to help people with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. Other prescriptions may help with the symptoms of cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. One should also speak with the healthcare professional about their treatment options if they take prescriptions for other health complications. Other treatment options being studied for narcolepsy include those that target the hypocretin chemical system and immunotherapy.

Home remedies
Apart from doctor-recommended treatments, one may also need to try certain home remedies. A few include:

• Sticking to a schedule which means sleeping and waking up at the same time daily, including on weekends.
• Scheduling short naps at regular intervals during the day. One should nap for about 20 minutes during the day, which could help stay refreshed. It also helps reduce sleepiness for 1 to 3 hours.
• Getting frequent exercise at least 4 to 5 hours before going to bed. A workout routine could help individuals sleep better at night and feel more awake during the day.

Asking for support
Since narcolepsy is a chronic condition, it may also take a toll on one’s daily activities, such as at work or school. One ought to speak to their employer or teachers about their condition and work with them to find ways to adjust the work schedule accordingly. For instance, an employer might permit napping during the day or breaking up repetitive tasks.
One could also record meetings or classes to refer to later. Standing during meetings or lectures and taking brisk walks during the day could also help. One should note that the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against workers with narcolepsy. Employers need to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees.

Being safe while driving
Those who need to drive long distances should work with their healthcare provider to find ways to make the journey safe. One should create a prescription schedule that could help them stay awake while on the move. The individual could also stop for naps and exercise breaks whenever the drowsiness sets in. One must never drive when one feels too sleepy.