“The exhaustion is just indescribable.”– Scott
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What Is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Narcolepsy?
All people living with narcolepsy have excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).
People living with narcolepsy feel a constant and often uncontrollable desire to sleep throughout the day, resulting in a constant and uncontrollable need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.
Excessive daytime sleepiness is more than just falling asleep.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and Its Daily Impact
Nicki
Excessive daytime sleepiness has significantly affected Nicki’s life, especially due to “surprise naps” that have caused her to sleep through her own birthday celebration.
Recognizing Narcolepsy and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Matt
In college, Matt recognized that he was always the first one to leave the party, but he didn’t know it was because of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.
You’re trying to fight the fog, to appear normal and excited to see friends.
Nicki, living with narcolepsy
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and Its Daily Impact
Recognizing Narcolepsy and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and Its Daily Impact
Nicki
Living with narcolepsyExcessive daytime sleepiness has significantly affected Nicki’s life, especially due to “surprise naps” that have caused her to sleep through her own birthday celebration.
Recognizing Narcolepsy and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Matt
Living with narcolepsyIn college, Matt recognized that he was always the first one to leave the party, but he didn’t know it was because of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.
You’re trying to fight the fog, to appear normal and excited to see friends.
Nicki, living with narcolepsy
How much is narcolepsy interfering with your daily activities or enjoyment of life?
Take this assessment a few times each year before visiting with your healthcare provider. Print or email your results and share them with your healthcare team to help you have informed discussions about your management plan.
Your
Narcolepsy Symptoms
Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.
Occurs at night and includes dreams; muscles are not active to prevent people from acting out dreams.
People with type 1 narcolepsy can be diagnosed by their cataplexy or low levels of hypocretin (also known as orexin).
The cause of type 2 narcolepsy is unknown.
Restorative sleep state with decreased muscle tone.
Daytime and evening habits to improve sleep.
Brief total loss of voluntary muscle control when falling asleep or while waking up.
Also known as orexin, hypocretin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness and prevent non-REM sleep and REM sleep from occurring at the wrong time.
Unintentionally falling asleep due to excessive daytime sleepiness; “sleep attacks.”
The inability to stay awake and alert during the day; a constant need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.
A naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness.
Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.
Frequent shifts between different states of sleep and wakefulness at night.
Difficulty focusing or concentrating.
Brief loss of muscle tone with retained awareness, often triggered by strong emotions.
Performance of routine tasks without awareness or memory.