Define narcolepsy and name a classic associated symptom.

Define narcolepsy and name a classic associated symptom.

• A. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder
• B. A breathing disorder during sleep
• C. A central hypersomnolence disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness with cataplexy as a classic symptom.
• D. A parasomnia involving dream enactment

Answer: (C)

Narcolepsy is a central hypersomnolence disorder, meaning the main problem is in the brain’s regulation of wakefulness rather than in breathing or the timing of sleep. People with narcolepsy experience persistent excessive daytime sleepiness and can have sudden sleep attacks. A classic associated symptom is cataplexy, a brief, sudden loss of muscle tone often triggered by strong emotions, which can cause a person to slump or briefly drop their head or jaw while remaining conscious. Other features you might see include hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis, but cataplexy is the hallmark sign that helps set narcolepsy apart from other sleep issues. This condition is different from circadian rhythm sleep disorders (issues with sleep timing), sleep apnea (breathing problems during sleep), and REM sleep behavior disorder (dream-enacting behaviors).

Narcolepsy is a central hypersomnolence disorder, meaning the main problem is in the brain’s regulation of wakefulness rather than in breathing or the timing of sleep. People with narcolepsy experience persistent excessive daytime sleepiness and can have sudden sleep attacks. A classic associated symptom is cataplexy, a brief, sudden loss of muscle tone often triggered by strong emotions, which can cause a person to slump or briefly drop their head or jaw while remaining conscious. Other features you might see include hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis, but cataplexy is the hallmark sign that helps set narcolepsy apart from other sleep issues. This condition is different from circadian rhythm sleep disorders (issues with sleep timing), sleep apnea (breathing problems during sleep), and REM sleep behavior disorder (dream-enacting behaviors).