There are a couple ways that narcolepsy can be identified Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), Cataplexy, Hallucinations, and Sleep Paralysis.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
This is when patients experience bouts of drowsiness and fall asleep quite suddenly. These sleep episodes happen in the middle of activity. Episodes like this can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to up to half an hour. This is one of the mores common symptoms of narcolepsy and up to 40% of people who are diagnosed with narcolepsy experience these sudden bouts of sleep or micro sleeps. EDS is usually the first symptom to present itself.
Cataplexy
This symptom is when the body experiences a loss of muscle tone resulting in the loss of voluntary muscle control and the patient might experience feelings of weakness. Depending on the muscles involved the side effects of catalepsy can range from slurred speech to total body collapse. In most cases cataplexy is triggered in response to strong emotions such as laughter, anger, surprise and more. These moments of instability to properly respond last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Those diagnosed with narcolepsy don't always experience this symptom.
Hallucinations
There are two types of hallucinations that are experienced with narcolepsy. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when the individual is falling asleep while hypnopompic occur when the the individual awakens. Again these episodes can last from as briefly has a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Due to the fact that the individual is in a semi state of consciousness when they experience these hallucinations they perceive them as reality. These dreams are potentially very frightening and vivid.
Sleep Paralysis
This is the inability to move the body either while falling asleep or upon wakening. The duration of these episodes are usually between one or two minutes. Sleep paralysis is akin to the paralysis that one might experience during the rapid eye movement period of their sleep cycle. Sleep paralysis is not limited to those who have narcolepsy; it can be experienced by any human being. After the episode passes the individual quickly regains their faculties and sometimes completely forgets that the incident occurred.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
This is when patients experience bouts of drowsiness and fall asleep quite suddenly. These sleep episodes happen in the middle of activity. Episodes like this can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to up to half an hour. This is one of the mores common symptoms of narcolepsy and up to 40% of people who are diagnosed with narcolepsy experience these sudden bouts of sleep or micro sleeps. EDS is usually the first symptom to present itself.
Cataplexy
This symptom is when the body experiences a loss of muscle tone resulting in the loss of voluntary muscle control and the patient might experience feelings of weakness. Depending on the muscles involved the side effects of catalepsy can range from slurred speech to total body collapse. In most cases cataplexy is triggered in response to strong emotions such as laughter, anger, surprise and more. These moments of instability to properly respond last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Those diagnosed with narcolepsy don't always experience this symptom.
Hallucinations
There are two types of hallucinations that are experienced with narcolepsy. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when the individual is falling asleep while hypnopompic occur when the the individual awakens. Again these episodes can last from as briefly has a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Due to the fact that the individual is in a semi state of consciousness when they experience these hallucinations they perceive them as reality. These dreams are potentially very frightening and vivid.
Sleep Paralysis
This is the inability to move the body either while falling asleep or upon wakening. The duration of these episodes are usually between one or two minutes. Sleep paralysis is akin to the paralysis that one might experience during the rapid eye movement period of their sleep cycle. Sleep paralysis is not limited to those who have narcolepsy; it can be experienced by any human being. After the episode passes the individual quickly regains their faculties and sometimes completely forgets that the incident occurred.