Narcolepsy, Sleep Deprivation, and Lupus

What is Narcolepsy? Narcolepsy occurs when a specific type of neuron in the brain called hypocretin-producing neurons are damaged and destroyed. These neurons help control the normal sleep-wake cycles in the body. When they are damaged, it becomes harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, and feel tired or awake. The most common symptoms include: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) Persistent feelings of sleepiness, regardless of how much sleep a person got the night before Sudden periods of sleepiness (sometimes known as “sleep attacks”) Between “sleep attacks” a person’s alertness and energy level in normal Sleep paralysis Vivid dream-like images and hallucinations. Can be triggered by intense emotional situations, both positive and negative, or at random Automatic behaviors / temporary sleep episodes Falling asleep during an activity but physically continuing the activity (e.g., writing, but having a significant decline in penmanship and no recollection of the activity) Difficulty sleeping at night The exact symptoms, triggers, and frequency of the episodes differ from person to person. In all cases, it is a serious condition. By depriving the body of sleep and causing sleep at bad times, narcolepsy can cause problems in social situations, athletic activity, and in the workplace. In addition to the issues mentioned above, it can both weaken the immune system and increase inflammation. There are two types of narcolepsy: Type 1: W ith cataplexy, which includes muscle weakness and temporary paralysis of the body during an episode, or before and after sleep. Type 2: Without cataplexy, which does not include muscle weakness. Type 1 is the most common form for people living with autoimmune conditions like lupus.

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