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Narcolepsy & Women’s Health: A Wake-Up Call
November 9, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that is characterized by persistent and excessive daytime sleepiness and an inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. In some cases, cataplexy – a sudden loss or activation of muscle tone in one or more parts of the body – can be triggered by strong emotions. Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1) occurs with cataplexy, whereas Narcolepsy Type 2 (NT2) does not.
Narcolepsy symptoms are often mistaken for mood disorders, behavioral issues, and other conditions, which result in significant delays in diagnosis. While men and women experience similar symptoms, women spend an average of 12 additional years pursuing an accurate diagnosis compared to men. Narcolepsy can present significant challenges to daily living, including managing employment, school, and relationships. There is no cure for narcolepsy, however, with proper treatment, symptoms can be stabilized and even improve over time.
The Society for Women’s Health Research has created a patient toolkit and other resources to increase awareness about narcolepsy and to help women identify symptoms earlier, reduce delays in obtaining appropriate care, and make informed decisions about treatments and long-term care management.
SWHR hosted a webinar to share educational information about narcolepsy, including diagnosing, treating, and managing care, and to highlight the experiences of women living with narcolepsy.
Follow the conversation on Twitter at @SWHR and #SWHRtalksSleep.
This event is free and open to the public.
Goals
- Highlight information and wellness strategies from SWHR’s narcolepsy toolkit
- Describe the importance of sleep throughout the life course and the impacts of narcolepsy on women’s health
- Provide a holistic overview of treatment options for narcolepsy and key considerations for care management for women
- Emphasize opportunities for women with narcolepsy to improve their quality of care and overall health
Download Your Copy of the Toolkit!
Panelists
Vidya Krishnan, MD, MHS
Vidya Krishnan, MD, MHS
Dr. Vidya Krishnan is a Professor at Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Campus in Cleveland, OH. She is board-certified in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. She has a Master’s degree in Health Science from the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research interests are generally how sleep disorders affect the course of other chronic medical diseases. She serves as the Chairperson for the American Thoracic Society’s Patient and Family Education Committee, as well as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Advocacy Committee.
Michael A. Grandner, PhD
Michael A. Grandner, PhD
Dr. Michael Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. He is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson. Dr. Grandner is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Medicine, Nutritional Sciences, and Clinical Translational Science at the University of Arizona. He is an internationally-recognized expert in sleep health, has over 200 academic publications, and frequently consults with health, technology, athletics, and nutritional companies and organizations regarding sleep, health, and performance. Read more about him at michaelgrandner.com.
Tove Maren Stakkestad,
Tove Maren Stakkestad,
Tove Maren Stakkestad is a Danish/ American writer, living in Washington State with her husband, four boys and two Siberian Huskies. Tove is a Narcolepsy advocate, sharing her life-long experience with Type 1 Narcolepsy (with Cataplexy). After 20 years in the financial services industry, Tove followed her true calling to write full-time, primarily on her blogs Mama in the Now and Hygge in the Now. She shares openly with her audience about the challenges of motherhood and Narcolepsy in her unique, relatable and often sarcastic voice.
Sponsor
SWHR’s Narcolepsy Program is supported by educational sponsorships from Avadel Pharmaceuticals and Harmony Biosciences. SWHR maintains editorial control and independence over educational content.
