• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Subscribe to the Journal
  • Contact Us
Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy

Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy

Official Publication of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy

Narcolepsy Testing and Diagnosis

November 8, 2021 by admin

Narcolepsy has been poorly portrayed in popular culture. It does not cause abrupt sleeping at comically inopportune moments. It is an uncommon neurological disorder affecting up to 200,000 people in the U.S.

People with narcolepsy report excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate sleep at night. They may also experience hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and cataplexy. Cataplexy is sudden muscle weakness while awake.

Narcolepsy can be hard to diagnose, with symptoms that are similar to other, more common, conditions. 

Primary Care Evaluation

A visit with a primary care doctor is the first step in diagnosing narcolepsy. They help rule out medications, depression, and other medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms. A medical history review can reveal conditions that may mimic narcolepsy, including traumatic brain injury.

The primary care doctor may also rule out other sleep disorders that can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle. Sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg, and chronic snoring are all common.

Once other causes are ruled out, the patient is referred to a sleep specialist with experience diagnosing narcolepsy. As described by Healthline, sleep physicians generally perform two diagnostic tests for this disorder. 

Polysomnogram

A polysomnogram is a sleep study during which the patient spends their regular sleeping hours in a lab. The study usually takes place at night. Sleep labs can be in hospitals or clinics. 

Electrodes are placed on the outer eyelids, chin, and scalp for the test. They measure signals indicating sleep, wakefulness, and REM sleep. The patient is observed by a technician and has monitors measuring respiration and heart rate.

The purpose of a polysomnogram for diagnosing narcolepsy is to look for sudden waking and rapid entry into REM sleep. It also measures sleep efficiency. Sleep efficiency is the percent of sleep hours actually spent sleeping. Normally this number is around 85%.

This test is also used to evaluate other common sleep disorders including sleep apnea and excessive snoring.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) takes place during the day. Patients are allowed to nap every two hours for a total of 4-5 nap opportunities during the study.

If the patient falls asleep the nap is interrupted after 15 minutes. If they do not fall asleep, the session ends after 20 minutes.

Electrodes provide information about how long it takes the patient to fall asleep and how soon they enter REM sleep. Those with narcolepsy often fall asleep quickly and enter REM sleep at least twice during the test.

Additional Testing, Diagnosis, Treatment

A lumbar puncture may be used to detect low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin. 

Narcolepsy diagnoses are categorized into two types. Type 1 is narcolepsy with cataplexy or low hypocretin. Type 2 does not have cataplexy or low hypocretin.

Depending on the type of narcolepsy and the severity of symptoms, treatment may include lifestyle, dietary, and sleep schedule changes. A sleep physician may also prescribe medication. Wake-promoting medicines that differ from traditional stimulants are used. Antidepressant drugs may be an option for some patients. Sodium oxybate reduces muscle weakness and daytime sleepiness.

 

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/narcolepsy/narcolepsy-test#whats-next

https://www.workplacetesting.com/definition/2673/sleep-efficiency-se

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/cataplexy

Filed Under: Blog, News Tagged With: narcolepsy, Narcolepsy Testing and Diagnosis

Primary Sidebar

More to See

Xywav Oral Solution for Idiopathic Hypersomnia

February 16, 2022 By Alan Hickey

New Insomnia Drug Improves Sleep Outcomes for Adults

February 10, 2022 By Alan Hickey

Tags

apnea CPAP Health Home Sleep Home Sleep Testing insomnia narcolepsy obstructive sleep apnea Sleep sleep apnea sleep apnea symptoms sleep apnea syndrome sleep apnea treatment sleep appliances sleep buisness Sleep Business sleep center Sleep Centers sleep community sleep diagnosis sleep diagnostic sleep diagnostics sleep disease sleep disorder sleep disorder center sleep disordered breathing sleep disorders sleep industry Sleepiness sleeping Sleep Lab sleep labs sleep management sleep medicine sleep monitor sleep physicians sleep problems sleep studies sleep study sleep technologist sleep test sleep testing Technology therapy Treatment

Footer

About SleepDT

SleepDT Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy is a clinical Journal for allied Sleep Professionals, Neurologists, Psychiatrists, Pulmonologists, Primary Care Physicians, and other medical specialists. We also advocate on behalf of patient care in the field of Sleep Medicine

Recent

  • Sleep Hygiene: Which Bedroom Colors to Avoid and which Promote Good Sleep??
  • Xywav Oral Solution for Idiopathic Hypersomnia
  • New Insomnia Drug Improves Sleep Outcomes for Adults
  • Mark Cuban Billionaire Entrepreneur and Television Personality Launches Online Pharmacy for Generic Drugs
  • Americans Say They’re Sleep-Deprived After the Super Bowl

NAVIGATION

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Subscribe to the Journal
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 · Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy