![]() ![]() It may be due to the overproduction of a small molecule that enhances the activity of gamma aminobutyric acid, or GABA, receptors, which are receptors in the brain associated with promoting sleep. The exact cause of IH is currently unknown. Narcolepsy can also be caused by an injury, tumor, or health condition that affects areas of the brain involved with sleep. Genetic markers associated with narcolepsy have also been identified. In fact, up to 10 percent of people with narcolepsy have a close relative with similar symptoms. Genetics is believed to play a role in narcolepsy. In these cases, the cause is generally unclear. However, a lack of hypocretin isn’t found in all instances of narcolepsy. This can lead to a deficiency in hypocretin, which affects an individual’s sleep-wake cycle. It’s believed that in some people with narcolepsy, the immune system attacks areas of the brain that produce hypocretin. This chemical is important for wakefulness and sleep cycle regulation. People with narcolepsy often lack a chemical called hypocretin, which is found in the brain. Now let’s explore the causes of narcolepsy and IH. In 14 to 25 percent of people, symptoms can spontaneously disappear. Symptoms often remain the same over time, although their severity can sometimes fluctuate. Like narcolepsy, IH is a chronic condition. However, these symptoms are generally less prominent than the ones listed above. It’s also possible that people with IH may experience sleep paralysis and hallucinations, similar to some people with narcolepsy. People who experience sleep drunkenness have difficulty waking or have a strong urge to go back to sleep. However, they typically don’t feel refreshed upon waking. People with IH can sleep or nap for a long time. In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks, other common symptoms of IH may include: Therefore, people with IH have excessive daytime sleepiness without a known cause. The term “idiopathic” refers to a condition without an identifiable cause. Narcolepsy is a potential cause of hypersomnia. Hypersomnia is when an individual experiences excessive daytime sleepiness. In fact, in some individuals, they may improve slightly over time. The symptoms of narcolepsy generally don’t get worse with age. Automatic behavior is a task or activity that’s done without having any memory of performing it. People with narcolepsy often have restless sleep and frequently wake up in the night. Often, a person may feel that someone else is in the room with them. People with narcolepsy can experience intense, potentially frightening sounds or visions upon falling asleep or waking up. While sleep paralysis isn’t harmful, it can be frightening when it happens. ![]() Sleep paralysis is a temporary loss of the ability to move or speak either before falling asleep or after waking up. Episodes can last from seconds to minutes. People with narcolepsy and cataplexy have what’s now referred to as type 1 narcolepsy, while those without cataplexy have what’s referred to as type 2 narcolepsy. Episodes of cataplexy can range in severity, from feeling weak to completely collapsing. Cataplexy is a sudden loss of muscle control. Other symptoms of narcolepsy can include: This means that an individual may experience more fragmented, restless sleep. However, in people with narcolepsy, these typical sleep cycles are disrupted. During this time, you may dream.ĭuring the night, you typically cycle through NREM and REM sleep. After you’ve moved through the stages of NREM sleep, you enter REM sleep. When you fall asleep, you typically move through three stages of NREM sleep first. You may know that sleep has several cycles that are associated with different levels of brain activity. For someone with narcolepsy, the brain is unable to regulate this cycle, which leads to symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the sleep-wake cycle, which is controlled by the brain. Let’s go into a little more detail about each condition and how they can present. While there are some similarities between the two conditions, there are also several differences. You may also feel like your mind has gone blank. Feeling tired all the time can lead to brain fog, which is characterized by problems with memory, attention, or concentration. A sleep attack can last several seconds or up to a few minutes. During a sleep attack, an individual falls asleep without warning. This can include feeling extremely tired during the day or an overwhelming need to sleep during the day. Narcolepsy and IH share three important symptoms: ![]()
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