A sleep disorder called narcolepsy continues to fascinate the scientists because of its close relationship between sleep and wakefulness.

This neurological condition occurs when the brain lacks a vital chemical called hypocretin which is in charge of sleep-wake transition.

You see, narcolepsy is believed to be an autoimmune disease because it’s caused by a false response from our immune system. Initially our immunity is designed to protect our health by keeping uninvited guests, like infections and viruses at bay. But in this case, it mistakenly attacks the part of the brain responsible for producing hypocretin.

These are the most common symptoms experienced by people with narcolepsy:

Uncontrollable drowsiness and weariness during daytime.

People feel very sleepy in broad daylight, no matter how much they sleep. Brief episodes of sleep attacks can be so irresistible they interrupt regular activities of a person, regardless of what they are doing.

Sudden muscle weakness

A person may completely or partially lose muscle tone, and it can even find it hard to grab something with hands.

Disturbed sleep

Narcolepsy tends to mess up the onset of sleep phases. For example, the dream phase may start right after falling asleep. Which means long before the REM stage, when it usually happens.

Sleep hallucinations

They happen when the dream world meets the reality. People open their eyes and find themselves amid familiar surroundings, feeling fully awake. But in reality, they are still dreaming, totally unaware of it. People describe phantom sensations, report hearing voices and vividly seeing other people move around their room. All of it lasts for about a few seconds or a couple of minutes and can be a pretty terrifying experience.

Sleep paralysis

Here people are also sure they are awake, when in fact they are caught in the middle of waking-up. They can neither move nor speak or scream, even when they try.
Some of the above symptoms can be just a one-time thing and nothing to worry about. They can be caused by such factors as stress, sleep debt or the use of meditations and other stimulants. Other symptoms may subside if you stick to a regular sleep schedule, avoid triggers like caffeine and alcohol, and try to relax before going to bed.

However, if the signs of narcolepsy continue, it’s better if you schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist, called a somnologist, in order to figure out the cause of the problem.