Hypersomnia
What is hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia is excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep. It's a condition that occurs when you have normal sleep at night, but still feel tired throughout the day. Since your body doesn't think it's received adequate sleep, this can cause you to experience difficulty staying awake. This will increase the chances of you falling asleep during school or work, which can really affect your day-to-day life.
Narcolepsy is the most common types of hypersomnia. This condition can affect adults, young adults, and adolescents.
Symptoms of hypersomnia
These are the most common symptoms associated with hypersomnia:
- Extreme sleepiness
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty remembering
- Anxiety
How is hypersomnia diagnosed?
Since there are many different factors that can cause a person to become sleepy or experience similar symptoms, it's essential for your primary care provider to first rule out any other factors, such as the use of other medications like melatonin and other sleep aids.
Treatment for hypersomnia
There are many different types of treatments for hypersomnia based on your symptoms. Some of the most common treatments include:
- Stimulant medications
- Other medications
- Changes in behavior - social activities delaying bedtime, avoiding nighttime work
- Changes in diet
- Avoiding alcohol and caffeine
Tired of not getting a good night's sleep?
Make an appointment with a primary care provider and ask for a referral to Dr. Scott Johnson at Crossing Rivers Health Center for Specialty Care.