Strictly's Sam Quek suffered big health scare after having 'recurring nightmares'

Sam Quek has opened up about her health scare after suffering from 'recurring nightmares'.

The former hockey player turned pundit, who won the 14th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, had to seek medical help after the nightmares left her unable to sleep properly.

The 33-year-old was diagnosed with narcolepsy, a long-term condition that affects the brain's ability to control sleep-wake cycles, and cataplexy, a condition that causes sudden muscle weakness.

Sam said that the nightmares were so bad that she would wake up screaming in the night and would be unable to get back to sleep.

She said: "I was having these recurring nightmares and I would wake up screaming and I couldn't get back to sleep again."

"I was also having these episodes where I would just collapse on the floor and I couldn't move or speak for about 30 seconds."

Sam said that she was "really scared" about what was happening to her and went to see a doctor.

She said: "I was really scared about what was happening to me and I went to see a doctor and they said it was narcolepsy and cataplexy."

Sam said that she is now taking medication to help her manage her condition and is able to sleep better at night.

"I am able to sleep better at night now that I am taking medication."

She said: "I still have the occasional nightmare, but it's not as bad as it was."

Sam is now speaking out about her condition in the hope of raising awareness of narcolepsy and cataplexy.

"I want to raise awareness of narcolepsy and cataplexy because it's not a very well-known condition."

She said: "I hope that by speaking out, I can help others who may be suffering in silence."