| All rights reserved. Northwind Lung Specialists and Sleep Center, 2007 |
 | |  | |
 | |
 |
|  | |  | |
| Northwind Lung Specialists & Sleep Center 3758 Coon Rapids Boulevard Coon Rapids, MN 55433 Phone:763-746-9463 Fax:763-746-9473 |
| Narcolepsy |
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes overwhelming attacks of sleepiness that often
occurs at inappropriate times and places, even after adequate nocturnal sleep. Onset of
narcolepsy is usually in the late teens or early twenties but may go undiagnosed for decades.
Other primary symptoms of narcolepsy may include the following:
Cataplexy - a loss of muscle tone usually in response to emotional events such as laughter,
surprise or anger
Hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations - distorted visual, auditory, or tactile perceptions
upon falling asleep (hypnagogic) or awakening (hypnopompic)
Sleep Paralysis - the inability to move or talk immediately upon awakenening. This is often
described as a frightening experience akin to "being buried alive" by those who have
experienced it.
occurs at inappropriate times and places, even after adequate nocturnal sleep. Onset of
narcolepsy is usually in the late teens or early twenties but may go undiagnosed for decades.
Other primary symptoms of narcolepsy may include the following:
Cataplexy - a loss of muscle tone usually in response to emotional events such as laughter,
surprise or anger
Hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations - distorted visual, auditory, or tactile perceptions
upon falling asleep (hypnagogic) or awakening (hypnopompic)
Sleep Paralysis - the inability to move or talk immediately upon awakenening. This is often
described as a frightening experience akin to "being buried alive" by those who have
experienced it.