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Warning-sign checks

Narcolepsy: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Get emergency help after a road crash, serious fall, significant head injury, or near-drowning.

    New one-sided weakness, trouble speaking, chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, or loss of consciousness should also be treated as an emergency rather than assumed to be narcolepsy or cataplexy.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek prompt medical advice if sleep attacks occur while driving, cooking, swimming, working at height, or operating machinery.

    Stop the unsafe activity until the risk has been assessed.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine medical appointment if you regularly struggle to stay awake during the day despite allowing enough time for sleep.

    Also seek assessment for episodes of emotion-triggered weakness, repeated sleep paralysis, vivid experiences around sleep, or sleepiness that affects work, school, or relationships.

The article also says

A typical cataplexy episode preserves awareness and resolves quickly.

A first episode, an unusual prolonged episode, or weakness without an emotional trigger should be medically assessed because other conditions can look similar.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Narcolepsy. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.