Narcolepsy Information and Awareness Group

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Samaritan on Main
663 East Main Street
Ashland, OH 44805

Dr. Laurie Mooney, the medical director of the Samaritan Sleep Center, created this information and awareness group to assist and support those diagnosed with the sleep disorder of narcolepsy.

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., with the exception of June, July and August. The hour long meetings begin at 6:30 p.m., and are held at Samaritan on Main, located at 663 East Main Street, beside Luray Lanes in Ashland, Ohio.

"The incidence of narcolepsy originally was thought to be fairly low at about two per 1,000 people," said Dr. Mooney. "However, now that sleep disorder testing is more readily available in sleep labs and centers, I see this number as probably being one that increases. I certainly have a lot of narcolepsy patients in my practice."

The primary symptom of narcolepsy is sleepiness. It can be mild to severe, with the potential of patients falling asleep while talking to someone, or while engaged in an activity.

In more severe cases, patients may experience cataplexy, which causes sudden muscle weakness. Again, the symptoms can be mild to severe, where the patient appears to have passed out as their entire body becomes limp.

"This sleep disorder does take a toll on the patients and their loved ones," Dr. Mooney explained. "Many people with narcolepsy end up on disability due to sleepiness, sleep attacks, or tardiness. Many family members, employers, and friends often do not understand the disease very well, causing the patients to be labeled as lazy, when that is not the case."

Loved ones, employers and teachers are encouraged to attend the support group as well. Teachers will find the meetings especially helpful, since the age of onset is often during the school age years, and at times misdiagnosed as ADHD, seizure disorders and other issues.

For more information on the Narcolepsy Information and Awareness Group, call the Samaritan Sleep Center at (419) 289-7139.




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