What are the main symptoms of narcolepsy and how is it diagnosed?

Narcolepsy is a condition where people feel very sleepy during the day, even if they sleep well at night. This can lead to falling asleep suddenly, even in the middle of activities. Another main symptom is cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle strength, often triggered by strong emotions like laughter or surprise.

Diagnosis

To diagnose narcolepsy, doctors often use two sleep studies:

1. Polysomnography (PSG): This overnight test measures sleep cycles and checks for other sleep disorders.
2. Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): This test checks how quickly a person falls asleep in a quiet environment during the day.

Doctors also look at the person's medical history and symptoms to make a diagnosis. It's important to talk to a healthcare provider if someone thinks they have narcolepsy, so they can get the right tests and help.