Can untreated sleep apnea cause narcolepsy?

by Jimmie
(Chandler Texas USA)

Can sleep apnea gone untreated turn into narcolepsy?

Answer

Although sleep apnea and narcolepsy have similar symptoms, the disorders don't have direct relationship.

However, it is possible to have both sleep disorders. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea is larger in narcoleptic patients than in the general population, ranging from 10 to 20%.

This association is explained by the tendency to gain weight from sleep deprivation caused by narcolepsy and side effects of medication. See Narcolepsy: A Clinical Guide for more information.

Narcoleptic patients are often underdiagnosed, especially if they also have sleep apnea. For example, the sleep doctor may think you have sleep apnea, when if fact you could have narcolepsy.

For a proper diagnosis of narcolepsy you will need 2 essential tests: the polysomnogram (PSG) and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). National Institutes of Health has a good informational page about this subject.


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