What is Hypersomnia or Excessive Sleepiness?
Hypersomnia, also known as excessive sleepiness, is a sleep disorder characterized by prolonged nighttime sleep and excessive daytime sleep. This condition, also known as hypersomnia disease, can make it challenging for individuals to stay awake during the day, interfering with work, school, and daily activities.
There are several reasons for excessive sleeping, including certain medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and medications. In some cases, hypersomnia can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or depression. Another common cause of excessive sleepiness is chronic lack of sleep from long working hours, irregular schedules, insomnia, or other reasons, leading to excessive daytime sleep.
There are several reasons for excessive sleeping, including certain medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and medications. In some cases, hypersomnia can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or depression. Another common cause of excessive sleepiness is chronic lack of sleep from long working hours, irregular schedules, insomnia, or other reasons, leading to excessive daytime sleep.
Symptoms of Hypersomnia
The common symptoms of hypersomnia can include the following:
Treatment of Hypersomnia
Hypersomnia treatment can depend on its cause. In many cases, improving sleep habits and making a few lifestyle changes may be all that’s needed. For others, hypersomnia therapies or medications may be a necessary option.
Lifestyle changes can significantly improve your quality of sleep, especially when they’re done along with other sleep disorder treatments. These include sticking to a sleep schedule, paying attention to what you eat and drink, creating a restful environment, limiting daytime naps, and managing worries.
If your hypersomnia is the symptom or side effect of another problem, it’s important to treat that underlying issue. If hypersomnia continues to be a problem, we may suggest behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy helps you change actions or thoughts that hurt your ability to stay awake. It helps you develop habits that promote a healthy pattern of wakefulness.
Medications may also be used to treat hypersomnia. The choice of medication depends on the individual’s specific symptoms and any underlying conditions. Medications combined with other types of therapies, treatments, and behavior modifications are often recommended for excessive sleepiness in elderly patients.
Book an appointment with us to help treat your hypersomnia.
Lifestyle changes can significantly improve your quality of sleep, especially when they’re done along with other sleep disorder treatments. These include sticking to a sleep schedule, paying attention to what you eat and drink, creating a restful environment, limiting daytime naps, and managing worries.
If your hypersomnia is the symptom or side effect of another problem, it’s important to treat that underlying issue. If hypersomnia continues to be a problem, we may suggest behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy helps you change actions or thoughts that hurt your ability to stay awake. It helps you develop habits that promote a healthy pattern of wakefulness.
Medications may also be used to treat hypersomnia. The choice of medication depends on the individual’s specific symptoms and any underlying conditions. Medications combined with other types of therapies, treatments, and behavior modifications are often recommended for excessive sleepiness in elderly patients.
Book an appointment with us to help treat your hypersomnia.
