Share

Why some people fall asleep in weird places

accreditation
Narcoleptics fall asleep at the drop of a hat.
Narcoleptics fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

Some of us might remember the 1991 movie My Own Private Idaho where the character Mike, played by the late River Phoenix, has unexpected attacks of deep sleep in the strangest places and situations.

No control

Most of us experience the odd daytime episode when we can hardly keep our eyes open. This may happen when we didn’t sleep well the night before or after a really big meal. In most cases, however, this isn’t a big issue and a cup of strong coffee or a walk around the block usually gets us going again.

But for some people, this isn’t so easy as they have no control over where and when they might lose consciousness.

The condition is called narcolepsy and affects an estimated 1 in every 2 000 people in the United States and approximately 3 million worldwide. It is however estimated that only 25% people who have narcolepsy have been diagnosed and are receiving treatment.

Narcolepsy has been described as: "It’s more like overwhelmingly bad jet lag. Like you can’t possibly stay awake, no matter how hard you try."

Famous narcoleptics include Curt Cobain, Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, Nastassja Kinski and Louis Braille.

What is narcolepsy?

According to NHS Choices narcolepsy is a rare long-term brain disorder that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. It doesn't cause serious health problems, but can cause difficulties on a day-to-day basis.

A previous Health24 article lists four classic symptoms of the disorder:

  • Excessive sleepiness/drowsiness during the day and sudden sleep attacks  
  • Cataplexy – a temporary loss of muscle control resulting in weakness and sometimes collapse
  • Sleep paralysis – the inability to move or speak when waking up or falling asleep
  • Hypnagogic hallucinations – excessive dreaming (and waking up) during the night

Cause of narcolepsy

Narcolepsy can be caused by a lack of the brain chemical hypocretin which regulates wakefulness, but it doesn't explain all cases.

Possible triggers may include hormonal changes during puberty or menopause, psychological stress and infections like swine flu.

Diagnosis

It's not easy to diagnose narcolepsy because symptoms like fatigue are common to many conditions. The condition is diagnosed by means of a sleep study which requires an overnight stay in a sleep lab.

Misdiagnosis of narcolepsy is common and it may be mistaken for depression, insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Treating narcolepsy

Narcolepsy cannot be cured, but improving sleeping habits and taking the correct medication can help to lessen the impact of the condition on one's daily life.

Frequent, brief naps throughout the day can help to manage excessive daytime drowsiness.

Going to bed at the same time each night can make a big difference.

There are medications that can help reduce daytime sleepiness, prevent cataplexy attacks and improve nighttime sleep.

Image credit: iStock

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE