Homer Simpson isn’t the only “person” in America diagnosed with narcolepsy. It’s estimated that 1 in 2,000 people have this sleep disorder. Photo credit: Wikipedia
(PHOENIX, AZ,) – Now we know it’s not just the beer that causes Homer to doze off. During the season premiere of The Simpsons, he was diagnosed with narcolepsy. And, Homer isn’t alone. It’s estimated one in 2,000 people have the disorder, which causes excessive daytime sleepiness.
“While we regularly see Homer falling asleep at work or in front of the TV, a person with narcolepsy generally doesn’t sleep any more than the average person,” says Valley Sleep Center President Lauri Leadley. “A person with narcolepsy sleeps a normal amount of time, but is unable to control the timing of sleep.”
Symptoms include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Cataplexy which is a sudden loss of muscle tone usually triggered by emotional stimuli
- Hypnogogic hallucinations which happen during the transition from wakefulness to sleep
- Sleep paralysis which involves the temporary inability to during sleep-wake transitions
- Waking up repeatedly at night
- Leg jerks, nightmares and restlessness
Currently, there is no widely accepted cure for narcolepsy, but a sleep specialist can help create an individualized treatment plan to ease symptoms.
About Valley Sleep Center
Since 2002, Valley Sleep Center has provided Arizona with diagnostic sleep disorder testing in a home-like atmosphere, ensuring a comfortable, relaxing experience for patients. Their physicians are Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialists and accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. They provide diagnostic testing for a multitude of sleep related disorders including insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, hypertension, sleepwalking, and pediatric sleep problems. www.valleysleepcenter.com.
