Can I get Narcolepsy?
Falling a sleep alot during the day? You may wonder, Do I have narcolepsy? Can I get it? Who gets it? Read on for some of these answers.
Narcolepsy is not rare but it is underdiagnosed. The disorder is estimated to affect about one in every 2,000 Americans.
Narcolepsy appears throughout the world in every racial and ethnic group, affecting males and females equally. But rates vary among populations. Compared to the U.S. population, the rate is lower in Israel (about one per 500,000) and higher in Japan (about one per 600).
Narcolepsy cases are sporadic, the disorder does not have a strong evidence of being inherited. But familial clusters are known to occur. Up to 10 percent of patients diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy report having a close relative with the same symptoms. Genetic factors alone are not sufficient to cause narcolepsy. Other factors-such as infection, immune-system dysfunction, trauma, hormonal changes, stress-may also be present before the disease develops. While close relatives of people with narcolepsy have a higher risk of developing the disorder, that risk remains low in comparison to diseases that are purely genetic in origin.
Hope this was informative.
Good Night to All,
Cheryl
Tags: narcolepsy, sleep, sleep disorder, sleeping too much