by Sleep is essential to a person’s health, and people who occasionally feel tired often boost their energy by taking a nap or getting a restful sleep the next night. But if sleep doesn’t relieve fatigue, it could be a sign of hypersomnia.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, hypersomnia is a chronic condition characterized by episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nocturnal sleep (over 11 hours). (opens in new tab) (NINDS). This disorder can stem from neurological disorders or be the result of poor sleep hygiene and other lifestyle factors.
It’s not known exactly how many people experience excessive sleepiness, but Dr. Abhinav Singh (opens in new tab)medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center, told Live Science that hypersomnia appears to be a relatively common condition, affecting between 10% and 20% of adults around the world.
dr Anita Raja (opens in new tab), a GP in the UK, told Live Science that symptoms of hypersomnia should not be brushed aside. “They can be detrimental to our mood, focus, relationships and energy levels,” she said. “If you feel tired during the day despite getting a good night’s sleep, or take regular naps during the day but still feel tired, please talk to a doctor.”
Hypersomnia: Symptoms
The term hypersomnia is often used interchangeably with excessive daytime sleepiness or hypersomnolence.
People with hypersomnia have a hard time waking up and feel the need to take repeated naps throughout the day. In addition, sleep usually does not relieve feelings of exhaustion and drowsiness.
“People with this condition can sleep 11 hours at night but still feel tired during the day,” Raja said.
According to NINDS, other symptoms of hypersomnia can include:
- fear
- irritability
- Low Energy Levels
- restlessness
- slow speech
- loss of appetite
- hallucinations
- memory problems
- Not being able to function in social, work, or other situations
Hypersomnia is not a life-threatening condition, according to NINDS, but it can lead to serious consequences, including accidents caused by falling asleep while driving.
Hyposomnia: causes
Hypersomnia can be a symptom of many different disorders, and doctors often classify the disorder as primary or secondary depending on the underlying cause.
According to the Sleep Foundation (opens in new tab), a nonprofit organization in the United States, hypersomnia is classified as primary when it occurs alone and is not caused by another known medical condition or factor. Secondary hypersomnia is when the disorder is due to other medical conditions, drugs, substances, psychiatric disorders, or insufficient sleep.
Secondary hypersomnia
The most common reason for hypersomnia is acute or chronic loss of sleep, Singh said. When a person consistently doesn’t get enough sleep, they can develop sleep deprivation syndrome. This condition often develops as a result of poor sleep hygiene.
“Shift workers like doctors, nurses and caregivers usually suffer from poor sleep quality,” Raja said. “That’s because their circadian rhythm — the brain’s internal natural way of regulating the sleep cycle — is disrupted by night shifts. Your body is designed to compensate for the loss of sleep. If sleep quality is inadequate during the night, your brain would like to catch up during the day.”
Hypersomnia is often secondary to or a symptom of another condition. In particular, excessive sleepiness can develop as a result of hypothyroidism, brain injury, and diseases of the nervous system such as Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
According to the Sleep Foundation, excessive sleepiness can also be an effect of certain sedative medications, excessive alcohol consumption, or stimulant withdrawal.
Primary hypersomnia
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (opens in new tab) (NINDS) include primary hypersomnia disorders:
- Type 1 narcolepsy
- Type 2 narcolepsy
- Kleine-Levin Syndrome
- Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Type 1 narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disease. This condition is caused by low levels of orexin — neurotransmitters central to regulating wakefulness, appetite, and arousal. The main symptoms of narcolepsy type 1 are hypersomnia, cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness), sleep paralysis and hallucinations.
Type 2 narcolepsy has many of the same symptoms as type 1, with the exception of cataplexy. It is not triggered by low levels of orexin, and the exact causes of this condition are unknown.
Kleine-Levin Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of hypersomnia and mental and behavioral disorders. This condition affects mostly young men and the episodes often diminish over a period of eight to 12 years.
Idiopathic Hypersomnia is characterized by excessive sleepiness without sudden muscle weakness. The exact causes of this condition are unknown, but they may be related to neurotransmitter disorders and predisposing genetic factors.
Hyposomnia: Diagnosis
According to the Sleep Foundation (opens in new tab), idiopathic hypersomnia appears to be a relatively rare condition, although its precise prevalence is difficult to determine. Idiopathic hypersomnia is diagnosed after all secondary causes of excessive sleepiness have been ruled out.
According to the Hypersomnia Foundation (opens in new tab)idiopathic hypersomnia can be diagnosed when the following conditions are present:
- Daily periods of excessive sleepiness or falling asleep during the day for at least three months
- No evidence of cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions) or sudden muscle weakness
- Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) results show a sleep latency (time to fall asleep) of less than 8 minutes or a total sleep time of 11 or more hours
- Hypersomnia due to sleep deprivation syndrome, medical conditions, medications, substances, or psychiatric disorders is excluded
Hyposomnia: Treatment
Treatment for hypersomnia depends on the cause of the disorder, according to NINDS. For example, idiopathic hypersomnia can be treated with a drug called Xywav — the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment thought to work during sleep to help with daytime symptoms — or with stimulants like amphetamine, methylphenidate, and Modafinil.
Treatment may also include non-drug options. “For primary hypersomnia, short naps along with caffeine can help increase alertness,” Singh said.
Patients with hypersomnia are often advised to make lifestyle changes to minimize disruption to their sleep cycle. They may be asked to avoid night work or to reduce their alcohol consumption. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy balanced diet, meditating and practicing yoga are other ways to help cope with excessive daytime sleepiness, Raja said.
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