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Narcolepsy is a life-long disorder of the Central Nervous System in which the brain is unable to control sleep-wake cycles. At random times throughout the day, narcoleptics feel a sudden, yet irresistible onset of sleepiness, which lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. This onset can occur at any time of day and while the person is performing any sort of activity, which makes it dangerous for those with narcolepsy to drive or operate heavy machinery. The “tetrad of narcolepsy” includes the four classic symptoms of the disorder: cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy is most often due to lack of a neurotransmitter called hypocretin, which helps regulate the sleep cycle. Since many doctors are not familiar with the symptoms of narcolepsy, many people go 3 - 15 years before being diagnosed accurately. Narcolepsy is a severely under-diagnosed and underrepresented condition. Currently, there is no cure for narcolepsy, but intense research to find a cure continues.
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