Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that is fairly common in the US, affecting an estimated 200,000 people. This is a disorder that often goes undiagnosed, and when it is diagnosed, it is only after many years of illness. Humans and animals can both be affected by narcolepsy. Narcolepsy was first described in Germany in the year 1877 by a man named Westphal. Gelineau first labeled the disorder “Narcolepsy” in the year 1880. The onset of the symptoms usually occurs in the teen years and early twenties. Men and women are both equally likely to have this disorder. About half of Narcolepsy cases occur because of severe psychological stress or altered sleeping schedules, and about 40% of people