Why Do I Fall Asleep All The Time?

Do you experience recurrent periods of an irrepressible need to sleep, lapsing into sleep, or napping occurring within the same day, at least three times per week over the past 3 months?

In case you have long-standing disease, do you experience brief (seconds to minutes) episodes of sudden bilateral loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) with maintained consciousness that are precipitated by laughter or joking, occurring at least a few times per month?

Do you show hypocretin deficiency (as measured using cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin-1 immunoreactivity values)?

Did you ever do a nocturnal sleep polysomnography (sleep test) and if yes, did it show rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency less than or equal to 15 minutes, or did you ever do a multiple sleep latency test and if yes, did it show a mean sleep latency less than or equal to 8 minutes and two or more sleep-onset REM periods?

While there may be no reason for concern, you may be showing a sign related to a sleep problem. A person without sleeping problems usually falls asleep in 5-15 minutes. If it takes more or less time, it could be a sign of a sleep disorder. Narcolepsy occurs when you suddenly fall asleep at any moment and during any type of activity. Excessive daytime sleepiness can also be caused by several other things, such as medication, an irregular sleep schedule, or not getting enough sleep. A little sleepiness is no cause for concern, but if your sleepiness has a negative impact on your daily life, it might be important to talk to a doctor to rule out an underlying cause.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs related to a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder in which the person has an uncontrollable daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. Narcolepsy can interfere with your daily activities. Also, people may not understand your situation and think you are just lazy. Besides, narcolepsy can cause problems with intimate relationships and it can even cause dangerous situations. For example, if you would have an attack while driving a car, you could easily get involved in an accident. It may be important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor to understand the underlying condition and what can be done about it.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have narcolepsy. It is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Based on your answers on his questions, the doctor may make an initial diagnosis of the disorder. After this preliminary diagnosis, he may refer you to a specialist. A specialist will carry out additional tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Narcolepsy cannot be cured but maintaining a healthy lifestyle and medication can help you manage your symptoms. A healthy lifestyle includes avoiding nicotine and alcohol and get regular exercise. Also, you may take short naps during the day to reduce sleepiness.