EP. 67: "Narcolepsy: Unpacking the 24/7 Neurological Sleep Disorder and Airway Comorbidity"

⚠️𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑: NO MEDICAL OR DENTAL ADVICE. Nicole Goldfarb and Airway Answers with Nicole Goldfarb does not give medical advice. The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided in this video is solely at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information presented. You should not use these materials to diagnose or treat any health issues, illnesses or diseases. In addition, we do not recommend or endorse any provider of health care or health-related products, items, or services. 
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𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
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Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:
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✅ The central topic is 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐬𝐲, defined as a neurological sleep disorder and a 24/7 disorganization of the sleep and wake cycle.
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❓ A primary question explored how narcolepsy is diagnosed, differentiating between 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝟏 (with cataplexy—the abrupt onset of muscle weakness) and 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝟐 (without cataplexy).
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🦷 The conversation emphasizes the 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 in identifying early warning signs, especially due to high comorbidity rates with sleep apnea (25% to 55%, possibly higher in specialized practices).
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🧠 Causes involve a genetic component (loss of the 𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, particularly in Type 1) often triggered by an environmental hit.
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💊 Treatment options include pharmaceutical agents (stimulants, wake promoting agents, nighttime medications) and non-pharmaceutical strategies like 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩-𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬.
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👶 In children, narcolepsy can be 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐃𝐇𝐃 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, often presenting as hyperactivity or the re-entrance of required naps.
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𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝑻𝒖𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔! 
👉👀 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞 (𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞): https://youtu.be/M_badw2OPag 
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ABOUT OUR GUEST: 
Maggie Lavender is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner licensed in Texas with specialization in Sleep Disorders Medicine and Neurology. She attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She began her career working in a pediatric intensive care and burn unit. She later moved to Houston, Texas and continued her career in a neuroscience intensive care unit at a level one trauma center. She then completed her Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate simultaneously at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Her Nurse Practitioner career began in Houston, Texas at Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates (CSMA) alongside Dr. Jerald Simmons, beginning in 2012. She briefly moved to Pittsburgh and provided care at an Internal Medicine Practice before moving back to The Woodlands, Texas. She is currently practicing again at CSMA and is specializing in comprehensive sleep disorders, neurology, and epilepsy. Maggie has evolved to be a recognized Nurse Practitioner specialist on an international level, and currently functions as a published author, consultant and lecturer on the management of patients with narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Maggie is the President and Founder of Sleep Medicine Advanced Practice Providers (SMAPP) Foundation. It is the first and only non-profit APP led organization to provide education, expert training, networking and empowerment to all Advanced Practice Providers in the field of sleep Medicine.

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ABOUT THE HOST: 
Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM® is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist