Hypersomnia Meaning, Symptoms & Treatment: A Complete Guide

Do you wake up feeling exhausted despite sleeping for hours? Or find yourself battling drowsiness throughout the day, no matter how much rest you get? This persistent fatigue could be more than just a lack of sleep—it might be hypersomnia.

Hypersomnia symptoms can disrupt daily life, affecting work, relationships, and mental well-being. Understanding what causes hypersomnia, its impact, and how to cure hypersomnia can help you regain control. In this guide, we break down hypersomnia meaning, hypersomnia treatment, and practical solutions to help you overcome excessive sleepiness and stay energised.

What is Hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia refers to excessive sleepiness that can interfere with daily life. Hypersomnia meaning is often associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), where individuals struggle to stay awake even after long periods of rest. Yes, hypersomnia meaning is essentially “excessive sleepiness,” affecting a person’s ability to function normally. It may happen even after long stretches of sleep and can occur with no medical conditions present.

It is not a disorder in itself, rather, it is a sign of other mental conditions. According to the National Sleep Foundation, around 40% of individuals witness signs of hypersomnia from time to time. Usually, poor or interrupted sleep due to conditions such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and sleep-related movement disorders can lead to hypersomnia. 

People with hypersomnia can sleep at any point, at work or while driving or bathing. They may also have some serious sleep-related problems, including being bereft of energy, and poor concentration, among others. 

Signs or Symptoms of Hypersomnia

Recognising hypersomnia symptoms early can help in obtaining timely treatment. Individuals with hypersomnia often experience excessive daytime sleepiness despite getting adequate sleep at night. Some key symptoms include:

• Persistent Daytime Sleepiness: Feeling excessively sleepy during the day, even after a full night's rest.
• Prolonged Night Time Sleep: Sleeping more than 10 hours at night but still feeling unrefreshed.
• Uncontrollable Naps: Taking multiple naps during the day that do not alleviate drowsiness.
• Difficulty Waking Up: Struggling to wake up in the morning or after naps, often experiencing severe sleep inertia (grogginess).
• Loss of Appetite: Decreased interest in food due to persistent drowsiness.
• Irritability and Restlessness: Increased frustration, anxiety, or mood disturbances.
• Cognitive Impairments: Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.
• Slow Speech or Thinking Ability: Experiencing sluggish cognitive responses and delayed reflexes.
• Fatigue: Constant exhaustion despite extended sleep periods.
• Depression and Anxiety: Mood disorders often coexist with hypersomnia, worsening emotional well-being.

What Causes Hypersomnia in a Person?

Understanding hypersomnia causes can help identify potential treatment options. Several factors contribute to hypersomnia, ranging from medical conditions to lifestyle choices.

Neurological and Medical Causes

• Brain Injuries or Neurological Disorders: Traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and tumours can interfere with sleep regulation.
• Sleep Disorders: Conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Chronic Health Conditions: Hypersomnia is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, kidney failure, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune disorders.
• Genetic Predisposition: Some individuals may inherit a higher likelihood of experiencing hypersomnia.

Psychological and Emotional Factors

• Stress and Anxiety: Can anxiety cause hypersomnia? Yes, excessive stress and anxiety can lead to hypersomnia by disrupting sleep patterns and causing fatigue.
• Depression and Mood Disorders: Individuals with depression often experience hypersomnia as a symptom, feeling fatigued and lacking energy despite adequate rest.

Lifestyle and Behavioural Causes

• Poor Sleep Habits: Irregular sleep patterns, too much of screen time before bed, and neglecting basic sleep hygiene can all lead to hypersomnia and constant tiredness.
• Substance Use: Drinking alcohol, using sedatives, or recreational drugs can mess with natural sleep cycles, often resulting in excessive drowsiness during the day.
• Medication Side Effects: Some medications, like antidepressants, antihistamines, and sedatives, might cause drowsiness as a side effect, making hypersomnia worse—or maybe just making it harder to wake up in the morning.

Figuring out what causes hypersomnia is key to managing it properly. Making small changes to daily habits and getting medical help when needed can make a huge difference.

These hypersomnia symptoms can significantly impact daily life, making routine activities challenging and increasing the risk of accidents, especially in tasks requiring alertness, such as driving or operating machinery.

Types of Hypersomnia

Hypersomnia is classified into several distinct types based on its causes and associated conditions:

Primary Hypersomnia

This occurs without any underlying medical condition. It includes idiopathic hypersomnia, where excessive daytime sleepiness persists despite sufficient sleep at night. Individuals with this type often struggle to wake up and may experience sleep inertia (prolonged grogginess upon waking). Primary hypersomnia treatment typically involves medication, lifestyle adjustments, and sleep therapy to manage symptoms effectively.

Recurrent Hypersomnia

A rare form of hypersomnia characterised by episodic excessive sleepiness lasting days or weeks at a time. A well-known subtype is Kleine-Levin Syndrome, which involves behavioural and cognitive disturbances alongside excessive sleep episodes.

Secondary Hypersomnia

This type of hypersomnia is generally caused by some medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Managing the underlying condition can help alleviate hypersomnia symptoms.

Hypersomnia Associated with Neurological Disorders

Conditions such as traumatic brain injury, strokes, and neurodegenerative diseases can cause persistent daytime sleepiness. Individuals with these disorders may require targeted treatment approaches.

Medication-Induced Hypersomnia

Some prescription medicines, including sedatives, antidepressants, and antihistamines, can lead to extreme sleepiness. Identifying and adjusting these medications can help manage hypersomnia symptoms effectively.

Behaviourally Induced Hypersomnia

This type results from poor sleep habits, including irregular sleep schedules, insufficient nighttime sleep, and excessive alcohol or drug use. Addressing the lifestyle factors can significantly improve symptoms.

Hypersomnia vs Other Sleep Disorders

Hypersomnia shares similarities with other sleep disorders but is primarily characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate rest. Unlike insomnia, which involves difficulty falling or staying asleep, or narcolepsy, which causes sudden sleep attacks, hypersomnia leads to persistent drowsiness and an overwhelming need for prolonged sleep.

Difference Between Insomnia and Hypersomnia

The difference between insomnia and hypersomnia is that insomnia leads to difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, whereas hypersomnia results in prolonged sleep duration and excessive daytime drowsiness despite sufficient rest.

Hypersomnia vs. Narcolepsy

A common question is, is hypersomnia and narcolepsy the same thing? While both involve excessive sleepiness, narcolepsy is marked by sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks and muscle weakness (cataplexy), whereas hypersomnia causes continuous drowsiness without unexpected sleep episodes.

Hypersomnia with Sleep Apnea

People often wonder, or is hypersomnia with sleep apnea? Sleep apnea, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), leads to disrupted sleep due to breathing interruptions, often causing hypersomnia. Addressing sleep apnea through medical treatment can help alleviate excessive daytime sleepiness.

Impact of Hypersomnia

In many cases, hypersomnia results from an underlying medical condition. It is problematic due to its ability to affect the normal course of life. It hampers cognitive abilities at school, home, and work. Untreated hypersomnia can put the life of the person in danger by increasing the risk of accidents, poor work performance, and mental health deterioration.

Cognitive and Emotional Impact

• Reduced focus and concentration
• Increased risk of anxiety and depression
• Emotional instability

Social and Professional Consequences

• Poor work performance
• Increased absenteeism
• Relationship issues due to excessive sleep

How is Hypersomnia Diagnosed?

As hypersomnia shares similarities with other sleep disorders, diagnosis can be challenging. Consulting a professional or medical counsellor about sleep problems is crucial. After evaluation through counselling sessions, further diagnostic tests such as polysomnography (overnight sleep study) and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) can confirm hypersomnia.

Common Tests for Diagnosing Hypersomnia

• Polysomnography (PSG): Evaluates sleep patterns and detects abnormalities.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): Measures how quickly a person falls asleep in a quiet environment.
• Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS): Helps assess the severity of daytime sleepiness.

Hypersomnia Treatment

Hypersomnia treatment depends on its cause, with options including medications, behavioural therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. Treatment aims to improve wakefulness, regulate sleep patterns, and address underlying conditions contributing to excessive sleepiness. A combination of medical and non-medical approaches can help manage symptoms effectively.

Medications for Hypersomnia

Most of the drugs meant for narcolepsy can also treat hypersomnia. These include:

• Amphetamine
• Modafinil
• Methylphenidate

These medications help in staying awake and improving alertness. Additionally, stimulants and antidepressants can assist if emotional disturbances affect sleep. For individuals with primary hypersomnia treatment, specific medications that promote wakefulness are often prescribed under medical supervision.

Therapy Options for Hypersomnia

In addition to medications, therapy can play a crucial role in managing hypersomnia. Some effective therapy options include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps address negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to poor sleep quality.
• Bright Light Therapy: Regulates sleep-wake cycles by exposing individuals to specific light intensities at controlled times.
• Sleep Hygiene Therapy: Guides individuals to develop healthier sleep routines and eliminate habits that disrupt rest.
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Uses meditation and relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

Combining hypersomnia treatment with therapy can enhance recovery and improve long-term sleep health.

What Can I Do to Better Cope with Having Hypersomnia?

Living with hypersomnia can be challenging, but certain lifestyle adjustments can help improve daily functioning. If you are looking for how to cure hypersomnia or how to get rid of hypersomnia, these strategies may help manage symptoms effectively:

• Follow a regular sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to regulate your body clock.
• Prioritise good sleep hygiene: Maintain a dark, quiet, and comfortable sleep environment.
• Limit naps: Short, planned naps may help, but excessive daytime naps can worsen symptoms.
• Avoid stimulants and depressants: Alcohol, caffeine, and certain medications can disrupt sleep cycles.
• Engage in physical activity: Regular exercise can improve energy levels and sleep quality.
• Manage stress and mental health: Hypersomnia is often linked with anxiety and depression, so relaxation techniques and therapy may help.
• Seek medical support: A doctor can help tailor an effective hypersomnia treatment plan that may include medications or behavioural therapy.

By combining these self-care measures with professional guidance, individuals can better manage their condition and improve their overall quality of life.

Get Expert Hypersomnia Treatment at Cadabam’s Hospitals

Cadabam’s has over 28+ years of experience in dealing with illnesses ranging from Depression to Anxiety and Hypersomnia. Our professionals are best at providing the right support and care you need. Treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and pharmacological interventions can help patients improve their quality of life. 

If you are searching for a solution to your problem, Cadabam’s Hospitals can help you with its team of specialised experts. We have been helping thousands of people live healthier and happier lives for 30+ years. We leverage evidence-based approaches and holistic treatment methods to help individuals effectively manage their Hypersomnia. Get in touch with us today. You can call us at +91 97414 76476. You can even email us at info@cadabamshospitals.com.

FAQs

Does depression cause hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia occurs with depression. However, the relationship between the two conditions is complex, and it is unclear what triggers the other. 

How common is hypersomnia?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, around 40% of individuals witness signs of hypersomnia from time to time. 

Can CBT help with hypersomnia?

Cognitive-behavioral therapies can help people with sleep problems, including hypersomnia and insomnia. It is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve mental health using changed emotional or behavioural patterns. 

Can anxiety cause hypersomnia?

Yes, anxiety can cause hypersomnia by disrupting sleep patterns and leading to excessive daytime sleepiness. Chronic stress and anxiety interfere with deep sleep, resulting in prolonged drowsiness. Managing anxiety through therapy, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle adjustments can help alleviate hypersomnia symptoms.

Is hypersomnia and narcolepsy the same thing?

No, hypersomnia and narcolepsy are not the same. While both involve excessive sleepiness, narcolepsy includes sudden sleep attacks, muscle weakness (cataplexy), and sleep paralysis. Hypersomnia, on the other hand, results in prolonged drowsiness without unexpected sleep episodes, often requiring a different approach for hypersomnia treatment.