Contributed by: Rachana Arya
introduction
Hypersomnia is a rare neurological sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate or typically prolonged sleep (e.g. more than 10 to 11 hours per night). People with hypersomnia sleep late every night. However, they feel excessively sleepy during the day and are forced to take frequent naps, often at inconvenient times such as at work, while eating, or during a conversation.
Hypersomnia includes napping in the office, running over the car to nap while driving, and calling out “sick” people to get more sleep. Most of the time, these naps can be very long – on the hourly scale – and are usually not refreshing or helpful.
Read on to learn more about the general gist of hypersomnia: what it is, what it does, and how it affects you.
FAQ # 1: How many hours is hypersomnia?
People with hypersomnia, also known as Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), may need 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night to feel optimal.
FAQ # 2: What are the symptoms of hypersomnia?
Patients often experience:
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- Difficulty waking up from a long sleep
- Not restful sleep
- Severe sluggishness
- Disorientation
- anxiety
- Increased irritation
- Mental mistiness
- Decreased energy
- Restlessness
- Slow thinking
- Talking slowly
- Loss of appetite
- Hallucinations
- Memory difficulty
- Inability to perform basic tasks on your own
FAQ # 3: How is hypersomnia different from insomnia?
Hypersomnia is different from insomnia in that the latter is the inability to sleep while the former is the inability to stay awake.
FAQ # 4: Is Hypersomnia a Common Sleep Disorder?
Not much. Hypersomnia is considered a “rare disease” that is believed to be less common than insomnia and therefore there is much less awareness of hypersomnia than insomnia.
FAQ # 5: What Causes Hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia can be caused by:
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- Another sleep disorder like sleep apnea or narcolepsy
- Autonomic nervous system dysfunction
- Illegal drug or Alcohol abuse
- A physical injury, tumor, or head trauma
- Certain medications or drug withdrawal
- Diseases (multiple sclerosis, depression, encephalitis, epilepsy)
- obesity
FAQ # 6: Is Hypersomnia a Serious Disease?
The prognosis for people with hypersomnia is determined by the origin of the disorder. While the disease is not life threatening in itself, it can have serious consequences, such as car accidents caused by falling asleep behind the wheel.
FAQ 7: When do the symptoms first appear?
Symptoms usually develop in their mid to late teens or early 20s, but can start in childhood or later in life.
FAQ # 8: Is There a Relationship Between Depression and Hypersomnia?
Depression can cause hypersomnia. However, the relationship between the two conditions is complicated, and it is unclear what causes one to cause the other.
FAQ No. 9: How is hypersomnia treated?
There are several methods of psychosocial intervention to Help patients improve their quality of life. These include:
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- Treatment of the underlying disease
- Stopping the drugs that cause hypersomnia
- Lifestyle adjustments
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- The use of wakefulness-promoting medication
FAQ No. 10: Is Hypersomnia a Serious Disease?
While hypersomnia cannot be viewed as a serious sleep disorder, it can be viewed as worrying and problematic. This is because it has the potential to seriously disrupt daily life. It impairs cognitive abilities and leads to significant disturbances in social and family life. Untreated hypersomnia can endanger a person’s life.
FAQ # 11: Is Hypersomnia Curable?
Fortunately, hypersomnia is a curable condition. The need for sleep of a hypersomnia sufferer can be reduced to a desirable and not excessive level with the help of a sleep doctor, and the annoying and possibly embarrassing fatigue during the day can be alleviated.
FAQ # 12: Does Hypersomnia Get Worse With Age?
Typically, symptoms begin in adolescence or young adulthood, although they can appear at any age. Once onset, hypersomnia often worsens with age and time.
FAQ # 13: Are There Ayurvedic Remedies To Get Rid Of The Problem?
Ayurveda offers proven herbs with incredible therapeutic properties that help our body regain its natural rhythm. Some of them are:
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- Brahmi / Gotu Kola
- Triphala
- Ashwagandha
- Brahmi
Final thoughts
The truth is that oversleeping, like sleep deprivation, is a very real problem for many people and can spin the body. Sometimes oversleeping can be a sign of a more serious health problem. Regular checkups are a great way to check your health and take appropriate action as soon as a red flag is hoisted.
Book the full body health check today!
The article FAQ Diaries (Part 19): Hypersomnia – The 13 Most Frequently Asked Questions first appeared in the HEALTHIANS BLOG.
Thank You For Reading!
Reference: blog.healthians.com
