Sleep

Difference Between Sleep Apnea and Narcolepsy

Difference Between Sleep Apnea and Narcolepsy

Sleep apnea and narcolepsy are very different conditions. The only similarity is that they are chronic sleep disorders. While narcolepsy affects how well someone can control their sleep patterns, sleep apnea occurs when there are repeated pauses in breathing during sleep.

  1. Which is worse sleep apnea or narcolepsy?
  2. Can narcolepsy be misdiagnosed as sleep apnea?
  3. Does CPAP help narcolepsy?
  4. What are the 5 signs of narcolepsy?
  5. Is there a connection between sleep apnea and narcolepsy?
  6. Is sleep apnea a disability?
  7. What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?
  8. What can narcolepsy be mistaken for?
  9. What is a common misdiagnosis of narcolepsy?
  10. Is Narcolepsy considered a disability?
  11. Can a blood test detect narcolepsy?
  12. How do you test positive for narcolepsy?

Which is worse sleep apnea or narcolepsy?

One main difference is in the side effects of sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Sleep apnea usually results in feeling unrested, snoring, and irritability. Narcolepsy symptoms are often more dangerous because a person can fall asleep or have the inability to control their muscles while driving.

Can narcolepsy be misdiagnosed as sleep apnea?

Other sleep disorders that cause daytime sleepiness are often mistaken for narcolepsy. These include sleep apnea, circadian rhythm sleep disorders and restless legs syndrome. Medical conditions, mental health disorders and use of certain medications or substances can also cause symptoms similar to narcolepsy.

Does CPAP help narcolepsy?

CPAP is a suggested treatment for severe OSA patient. After the CPAP treatment, additional MSLT study may be helpful for differentiating narcolepsy.

What are the 5 signs of narcolepsy?

There are 5 main symptoms of narcolepsy, referred to by the acronym CHESS (Cataplexy, Hallucinations, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Sleep paralysis, Sleep disruption). While all patients with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness, they may not experience all 5 symptoms.

Is there a connection between sleep apnea and narcolepsy?

Abstract. Study objectives: Narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are two conditions associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). They may coexist in the same patient but the frequency of this association and its clinical significance is unknown.

Is sleep apnea a disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer has a disability listing for sleep apnea, but it does have listings for breathing disorders, heart problems, and mental deficits. If you meet the criteria of one of the listings due to your sleep apnea, you would automatically qualify for disability benefits.

What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?

Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

What can narcolepsy be mistaken for?

Narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed as other conditions that can have similar symptoms, including:

What is a common misdiagnosis of narcolepsy?

In a physician survey and retrospective chart review study of 252 patients with narcolepsy, 60% of patients had initially received a misdiagnosis of another disorder. The most common misdiagnoses included depression (~31%), insomnia (~18%), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (~13%).

Is Narcolepsy considered a disability?

This disorder is extremely unpredictable and can be dangerous. There is no cure, but treatments such as medication and scheduled naps can reduce some of its effects. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not recognize narcolepsy as a medical condition that automatically qualifies you for disability benefits.

Can a blood test detect narcolepsy?

Multiple sleep latency test

If you have narcolepsy, you'll usually fall asleep easily and enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep very quickly. You may also have a blood test to find out whether you have a genetic marker known as HLA DQB * 0602, which is associated with narcolepsy.

How do you test positive for narcolepsy?

Two tests that are considered essential in confirming a diagnosis of narcolepsy are the polysomnogram (PSG) and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). In addition, questionnaires, such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, are often used to measure excessive daytime sleepiness.

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