Narcolepsy Center - Kent, WA
Kent Sleep Specialist Doctors for NarcolepsyType of Physician: Sleep Specialist What is a Sleep Specialist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, or Psychiatry & Neurology; practitioners are trained in the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep, or that are affected by dis Specialty: Sleep Medicine Common Name: Sleep Medicine Sleep Specialist Doctors in Kent * Comprehensive Sleep Medicine  Comprehensive Sleep Medicine  Sleep Medicine Associates  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Sleep Medicine Associates  Sleep Medicine Associates  Sleep Medicine Associates  Sleep Medicine Associates  Harborview Medical Center Sleep Disorder Center  Comprehensive Mental Health  Virginia Mason Sleep Center  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  Teresa E Jacobs MD PS  Chimera Health PLLC  Pacific Sleep Center  Stevens Pulmonary  Kitsap Chest Consultants  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  Respiratory Physicians Southwest Washington  Olympia Sleep Laboratory  Olympic Medical Physicians  Mount Baker Rheumatology Center Kent, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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NarcolepsyWhat is narcolepsy?Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the main symptom and is present in 100% of patients with narcolepsy. Other primary symptoms of narcolepsy include:
Additional symptoms include disturbed nocturnal sleep and automatic behavior (patients carry out certain actions without conscious awareness). All of the symptoms of narcolepsy may be present in various combinations and degrees of severity. Narcolepsy usually begins in teenagers or young adults and affects both sexes equally. The first symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness, which may remain unrecognized for a long time in that it develops gradually over time. The other symptoms can follow excessive daytime sleepiness by months or years.
How common is narcolepsy?The prevalence of narcolepsy is similar to that of Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. In the United States, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates narcolepsy affects one in every 2,000 people. However, in some countries (for example, Israel), the prevalence of narcolepsy is much lower (one per 500,000) while in other countries (for example, Japan), it is much higher (one per 600). The American Sleep Association estimates that approximately 125,000 to 200,000 Americans suffer from narcolepsy, but only fewer than 50,000 are properly diagnosed. Narcolepsy often remains undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for several years. This may occur because physicians do not consider the diagnosis of narcolepsy frequently enough. They may think of narcolepsy only in people who have the main symptom of excessive daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy may not be considered in the evaluation o... Recommended Reading Related to NarcolepsyWhat is sleep apnea?Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by a reduction or pause of breathing (airflow) during sleep. It is common among adults but rare among children. Although a diagnosis of sleep apnea often will be suspected on the basis of a person's medical history, there are several tests that can be used to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment of sleep apnea may be either surgical or nonsurgical. An apnea is a period of time during which breathing stops or is markedly reduced. In simplified terms, an apnea occurs when a person stops breathing for 10 seconds or more. If you stop breathing completely or take less than 25% of a normal breath for a period that lasts 10 seconds or more, this is an apnea. This definition includes complete stoppage of airflow. Other definitions of apnea that may be used include at least a 4% drop in oxygen in the blood, a direct result of the reduction in the transfer of oxygen into the blood when breathing stops. ...Other Related Narcolepsy ArticlesEmergency Contact for Kent
Nearby Kent Hospitals *Valley Medical Center Auburn Regional Medical Center Highline Medical Center Main Campus St Francis Hospital Highline Medical Center Specialty Campus The Regional Hospital for Respiratory & Complex Care Schick Shadel Hospital West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital VA Puget Sound Health Care System Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center Tacoma General Hospital St Joseph Medical Center Pierce County Human Services Good Samaritan Hospital & Community Healthcare Allenmore Hospital Harborview Medical Center Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus Virginia Mason Medical Center Enumclaw Regional Hospital Overlake Hospital Medical Center Group Health Central Hospital Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Group Health Eastside Hospital  University of Washington Medical Center  Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center  Saint Clare Hospital  Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus  Kindred Hospital Seattle  Harrison Medical Center  Evergreen Hospital Medical Center  Fairfax Hospital  Northwest Hospital & Medical Center  Stevens Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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