Delays in Diagnosis and
Other Health Conditions
When you have narcolepsy, your life can be impacted by delayed diagnosis as well as other medical conditions.
Misdiagnosis is common, and many people go for 10 years or more after symptoms start before getting a diagnosis of narcolepsy. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the effects that narcolepsy can have on people’s lives and overall health.
Among other issues, narcolepsy can contribute to:
- Learning disabilities
- Poor school or work performance
- Impaired ability to participate in sports or exercise
- Difficulty caring for a family and household
- Isolation
- Stigmatization
- Reduced quality of life
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you think you may have narcolepsy, as delays in diagnosis can result in delayed treatment, which may increase the burden of this condition.
Additionally, people with narcolepsy may be more likely to have certain medical conditions compared with people without narcolepsy, including mental health issues and heart conditions. When other medical conditions are present, they can add to the burden of the disease.
People with narcolepsy may be more likely to have:
- Depression and other psychiatric disorders
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Cardiovascular disease
