A condition called narcolepsy causes sudden attacks of sleep or sleep loss. The episodes may last for a few seconds or a few minutes. Poor sleep is also a common problem.

Narcolepsy is rare. Experts estimate that it affects about 1 in 2,000 people. However, many researchers believe it often goes undiagnosed. The symptoms of narcolepsy usually begin between the ages of 7 and 25, but it can manifest at any age.

If you have narcolepsy, you may experience cataplexy, or sudden muscle weakness often triggered by extreme emotions like stress or excitement.

Some people also have hallucinations while falling asleep and sleep paralysis, or a temporary loss of muscle control while sleeping.

However, only about 10% to 15% of people experience all of these symptoms at once.

Aside from sleep-related symptoms, several other conditions often appear alongside narcolepsy. Doctors usually call these accompanying conditions comorbidities.

If you have a condition like narcolepsy, you should be aware of your comorbidities.

Many comorbidities of narcolepsy can affect your sleep, make you feel tired, and even affect other things in your daily life.

It is important to identify them so your doctor can help you manage it.

Obesity and diabetes

People with narcolepsy tend to have higher body mass index (BMI).

Older studies have suggested that adults with narcolepsy weigh 15% to 20% more than those without this condition.

“Doctors don’t know why this happens It is possible that narcissistic tendencies can make you burn fewer calories, or that drowsiness can make you not get enough exercise. There is more research that is needed.”

Other sleep conditions

Other sleep disorders may cause your narcoles to be worse. Some of them are.

It may be harder for doctors to diagnose sleep problems when you have more than one.

Make sure to give your doctor as much information as possible to help them identify the cause and suggest appropriate treatment.

Mental health conditions

People with narcolepsy have mental health issues. Nested is often misdiagnosed as a mental health disorder because of its similar symptoms.

Depression

In several questionnaires given to people with narcolepsy, up to 57% of respondents reported having depression.

If you are getting treatment for narcoleau, you should schedule regular check-ins with your doctor.

Anxiety

More than half of people with narcolepsy also report having anxiety symptoms. Panic attacks and social anxiety are especially common. Some of these symptoms show up before narcolepsy, and some after.

Researchers don’t know if these conditions are related, but some suggest that the inability to control your sleep can trigger anxiety.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A review of research found that up to 33% of participants with narcolepsy also had ADHD. Although scientists don’t fully understand the link between these conditions, there are some hypotheses.

Problems with your attention span and impulse control can be caused by excessive daytime sleepiness.

Eating disorders

People with narcolepsy sometimes have irresistible cravings for food that can cause binge eating.

An older study reported that 23% of participants with narcolepsy also had eating disorders. This may be one of the reasons why some people with narcolepsy have obesity.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia in people with narcolepsy is not very common. Some research suggests it can happen in 5% to 13% of people who also have narcolepsy.

However, because of similar symptoms like hallucinations and psychosis, schizophrenia can be confused with narcolepsy.

Heart conditions

Certain conditions affecting your blood vessels can be linked to narcolepsy.

Although more research is needed to understand why this happens, a few factors can play a role.

Your blood pressure usually goes down during sleep. Problems with sleep can affect this natural pattern.

Second, obesity, depression, and diabetes — common in people with narcolepsy — can increase your risk for The heart disease is very serious..

Third, not being able to get fully rested at night can put an extra strain on your heart, leading to The heart disease is very serious..

Finally, some narcolepsy medications are high in sodium, and sodium can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. However, low sodium options have recently become available, so make sure to speak with your doctor about these.

Living with a condition like narcoleptic is difficult, but having other conditions is even more difficult.

It is difficult to determine which condition is causing which symptoms on a particular day when your conditions have overlap symptoms.

If this sounds familiar, you should speak with a doctor. They can help you figure out what is causing your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan.

If you have any symptoms, talk to a doctor. If you visit your doctor regularly, you can control your symptoms and find a remedy for any new ones.

If you feel lonely and have trouble maintaining relationships, you should bring it to your doctor.

They can recommend treatments for mental health and can also refer you to support groups.

A condition called narcolepsy makes you sleepy or fall asleep. It can cause a lot of symptoms, like sleep paralysis, and sudden muscle weakness.

Other sleep disorders, diabetes, mental health conditions, and heart conditions can all be related to narcolepsy.

A doctor will help you identify what is causing your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan.