Hypersomnia is a condition where a person has problems staying awake. People who have this condition may find themselves falling asleep while they are driving or at work. They may also have problems thinking clearly and suffer from fatigue. A person may suffer from hypersomnia because they do not get enough sleep at night.
Others have hypersomnia because they suffer from sleep apnea. Certain prescription drugs, such as tranquilizers, can can cause hypersomnia. This condition is more likely to occur in people who have a head injury. Additionally, people who use drugs and alcohol are more likely to develop hypersomnia.
People who find themselves always feeling sleepy during the day need to see a doctor. Physicians can run a series of test in order to determine whether a person has hypersomnia. This includes CT scans, blood tests and sleep tests. Your doctor will also review the medications and ask about your emotional state.
Hypersomnia can be treated with antidepressants or stimulants. If the person has sleep apnea, then the person may be prescribed a CPAP machine. This is a device that keeps the airway opening by delivering constant air pressure. If you are taking a medication that is causing you to feel drowsy, then your doctor may switch you to another medication.
The key to having hypersomnia treated properly is to recognize the signs.
1. Excessive Sleep
People who are tired all of the time may attempt to sleep longer in order to feel rested. They may find themselves sleeping for 12 or more hours per day. Because people with hypersomnia spend a lot of their time sleeping, they may struggle in other areas of their life. They may find that they struggle at school and work.
They may also have problems in their relationships and friendships. Many people will skip work, school and social activities because they want to spend more time sleeping. It can be hard to maintain a normal life if one is sleeping all of the time.
Even if a person is taking medication, they may still sleep all of the time. Some people may not realize that their excessive sleep is caused by hypersomnia. They may constantly blame themselves for this problem. They may also find themselves constantly apologizing to their family members and friends. Additionally, they may attribute their excessive sleep to another medical condition such as depression or restless leg syndrome.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Excess Daytime Sleepiness
Despite the fact that many people sleep with this condition sleep all of the time, they may still find that they are sleepy during the day. This excessive daytime sleepiness can make it difficult for people to complete simple activities. Daytime sleepiness can cause problems at work or school because a person may have trouble concentrating on their tasks.
There are a number of signs that a person may notice if they suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. This includes slowed speech, hallucinations, poor spatial reasoning and lapses in attention. Moodiness is another symptom of excessive daytime sleepiness.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Difficulty Waking Up
People who have hypersomnia may have trouble waking up. They may have to use multiple alarms to get in the morning. In many cases, using multiple alarms does not work. They may have trouble completing their morning rituals because they have trouble waking up on time. Additionally, they may find themselves frequently late for work and school.
They may use other tricks to help them get up on time. However, people who sleep for long periods of time and are not getting good quality sleep will likely still have a problem getting up on time in the morning.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Sleep Inertia/Drunkenness
Sleep inertia is defined as impaired sensor-motor performance and cognitive function that is present when a person first wakes up. This condition is often referred to as sleep drunkenness. It is normal for a person to experience sleep inertia after waking up. This will typically go away within 15 to 60 minutes. However, if a person has hypersomnia, then this may last for a much longer period of time.
Sleep inertia is a concern because it can impact a person’s decision-making abilities. It can make driving dangerous. It can also pose an occupational hazard.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Taking Long, Unrefreshing Naps
Taking a nap can have benefits. Studies have shown that taking a nap can improve performance and alertness. It can also relax and rejuvenate a person. However, experts recommend that people limit their nap time to 20 to 30 minutes. Taking a nap that is longer than 30 minutes can make it more difficult to sleep at night.
People who have hypersomnia may find themselves taking long naps because they are so sleepy during the day. However, these naps are unrefreshing. In fact, many people wake up feeling more tired than they were before they went to sleep.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Cognitive Dysfunction
Cogntive dysfunction is defined as the loss of remembering, thinking, reasoning and other cognitive functions. This is often referred to as brain fog. People who have brain fog may have trouble concentrating, doing basic math and recalling important facts. Other symptoms of cognitive function include poor motor coordination, confusion, impaired judgment and loss of long-term and short-term memory.
People with cognitive dysfunction may also experience emotional symptoms such as emotional outbursts and frustration. Proper sleep is essential for brain health. That is why people who have hypersomnia are more likely to suffer from cognitive dysfunction.
