![]() These conditions are not generally life threatening or even terribly worrisome, and can be treated with medication if diagnosed by your veterinarian. A cat that is experiencing a cataplectic episode may run around excitedly and then suddenly collapse, unable to move but will still be looking around, perhaps meowing or whining, fully conscious. A narcoleptic cat may also suddenly fall asleep while climbing, which can cause the cat to fall to the ground. A cat with narcolepsy may suddenly fall into a deep sleep while standing, sitting, or eating, causing the cat to sway and fall over. You’ll take four or five short naps, usually 2 hours apart.Narcolepsy and cataplexy are rare in cats but have been reported. The test takes place during the day to measure your tendency to fall asleep and find out whether certain elements of REM sleep happen at unusual times during the day. Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT): This is also done at a special clinic or lab.It can rule out other problems that might be causing your symptoms. A PSG can help reveal whether you go into REM sleep at unusual times in your sleep cycle. It’s an overnight test that takes constant measurements while you’re asleep to record problems in your sleep cycle. Polysomnogram (PSG): This is done in a sleep disorder clinic or a sleep lab.Sleep records: Your doctor might ask you to keep track of your symptoms and when you’re sleeping for a couple of weeks.Symptoms of narcolepsy can look like those of other health problems. You continue the activity while asleep and wake up with no memory of what you did. Automatic behavior: You fall asleep during a regular activity like driving, walking, or talking.Sleep apnea: Your breathing often stops and starts while you sleep.Periodic limb movement disorder ( PLMD): Your leg muscles move without your control many times during the night.Some people with narcolepsy also have related problems, including: Narcolepsy-Related Conditions and Behaviors If you have a family history of narcolepsy, your risk of getting it is 20 to 40 times higher. Narcolepsy usually begins between the ages of 15 and 25, but it can show up at any age. Risk factors for narcolepsy include your age. They’ve also found problems in parts of the brain involved in controlling REM sleep. Some experts think narcolepsy may happen because your brain has a hard time making a chemical called hypocretin. These genes control the production of chemicals in your brain that may signal sleep and awake cycles. ![]() Scientists are getting closer to finding genes linked to the disorder. They think it involves multiple things that come together to cause problems in your brain and disturb your REM sleep. Disrupted sleep: You might have a hard time staying asleep at night because of things like vivid dreams, breathing problems, or body movements.Įxperts don’t know what causes narcolepsy.These episodes usually last a few seconds to several minutes. Sleep paralysis: You may be unable move or speak while falling asleep or waking up.If they happen when you’re waking up, they’re called hypnopompic hallucinations. If they happen as you’re falling asleep, they’re called hypnagogic hallucinations. They’re mostly visual, but any of the other senses can be involved. Hallucinations: These delusions can happen at any time and are often vivid and frightening.It’s often triggered by intense emotions such as surprise, laughter, or anger. Cataplexy: This can cause problems ranging from slurred speech to total body collapse, depending on the muscles involved.You have memory lapses and feel depressed or exhausted. The lack of energy can make it hard to concentrate. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS): In general, EDS makes it harder to do everyday activities, even if you got enough sleep at night.In REM sleep, we can dream and have muscle paralysis, which explains some of the symptoms of narcolepsy. In many cases, narcolepsy isn’t diagnosed and therefore isn’t treated. Type 1 narcolepsy comes with a sudden loss of muscle tone that causes weakness and makes you unable to control your muscles (cataplexy). People with narcolepsy go into REM sleep almost immediately in the sleep cycle and sometimes while they’re awake. In a typical sleep cycle, we enter the early stages of sleep, then the deeper stages, and finally (after about 90 minutes) rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
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