Could this sleep disorder be to blame for your extreme daytime exhaustion?

Do you find yourself falling asleep suddenly throughout the day? Are you hit with waves of intense and prolonged exhaustion more often than not? Sure, everything from caffeine crashes to poor sleep can lead us to feel really tired sometimes; however, if this has become the norm for you, our Columbia, SC, sleep specialist, Dr. Richard Bogan, is here to tell you more about narcolepsy and how to spot it.

Unfortunately, it’s reported that only about ¼ of people with narcolepsy have actually been diagnosed, which means that there are a lot of people with this sleep disorder that aren’t getting the proper treatment and care they need. How do you know if you have narcolepsy or not? Well, here are some of the warning signs:

  • Severe and chronic daytime sleepiness
  • Muscle weakness while awake (known as cataplexy)
  • Hallucinations
  • Sleep paralysis (being unable to move while asleep)

These symptoms can range in severity and most people with narcolepsy won’t experience all of these symptoms. If symptoms are mild, it’s easy for someone not to consider seeking medical attention even though they should. If you find yourself extremely tired throughout the day you may also find yourself dealing with intense mood swings, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, or lack of energy.

Narcolepsy symptoms tend to appear once someone is no longer active, such as when they are reading a book or relaxing on the couch watching TV. Those with narcolepsy often have trouble sleeping at night. You may find yourself having trouble falling asleep or you may not stay asleep, tossing and turning throughout the night.

Diagnosing Narcolepsy

A lot of these symptoms can be indicative of other conditions such as depression, a chronic health problem, or another sleep disorder, which is why it’s a good idea to seek an evaluation from our Columbia sleep doctor to find out if narcolepsy is causing your symptoms or whether it’s something else. We will go through your medical history, discuss your symptoms in detail and recommend that you undergo a daytime sleep study so that we can more thoroughly evaluate your sleep and wakefulness patterns.

Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, wants to help you get to the bottom of your sleep problems so that you can finally get the quality sleep you deserve. A good night’s sleep is possible and we can help. Call us today to schedule a sleep study with us.