Hypersomnia

HYPERSOMNIA: JUST FEELING TOO SLEEPY

OVERVIEW: Feeling sleepy too much during the day? It is not normal to be sluggish and sleepy all day. Excessive daytime sleepiness, or hypersomnia, can make your life very difficult. Right when you need to be alert for your job or other activities, sleepiness hits you and you don't feel like you can think clearly. Accidents are more likely to happen when you are excessively sleepy. Hypersomnia, or simply being sleepy much of the time, is often a symptom of another underlying illness or sleep disorder.

CAUSES: The most common reason for daytime sleeping is insomnia. If a person is not getting all the sleep they need at night, it is only natural that they will feel a need for more sleep during the day. Obstructive sleep apnea is another disorder that can cause daytime sleepiness. In this illness, the patient stops breathing periodically during the night because of an obstruction of some type in the airway. Narcolepsy is a neurological condition in which irresistible sleep attacks take place during the day. Hypersomnia can also be a symptom of a disease like multiple sclerosis. Substance abuse can cause hypersomnia, as can being overweight. Hypersomnia is sometimes a side effect of prescription drugs, too.

SYMPTOMS: Hypersomnia may seem to be connected with depression, as depressed people often want to stay in bed more than is warranted. In reality, depressed people often can't get to sleep when they want to. People with hypersomnia can get to sleep, and might even sleep 10 hours or more at night as well as feeling the need for naps. Hypersomnia is more than just being sluggish or tired, however. It is marked by a strong desire to actually lay down and sleep during the day. People who have a hard time waking up, feeling confused or angry, are sometimes said to have a type of hypersomnia called "sleep drunkenness." This condition affects more males than females.

DIAGNOSIS: A doctor will want to know if you are feeling sleepy throughout the day. Doctors can tell a lot just by asking you questions about your sleep habits. They will also ask about your emotional health, and what medications you are taking. Most health examinations include a blood test, which can tell the physicians a lot about your general health. In cases of hypersomnia, sometimes special tests, such as a CT scan or an EEG are ordered. You might even need to spend a night in a sleep clinic, where your sleep can be monitored.

TREATMENT OPTIONS: Treatment for hypersomnia will depend upon the reasons for the sleepiness. For instance, if you are on a medication that is making you drowsy as a side effect, the doctor will probably look for a different medication. If you are found to have sleep apnea, you may have to use a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which administers air through a mask you wear on your face. Finally, it may be in your best interest to take a stimulant medication so that you can function more effectively during the day.