According to research, roughly 4%–6% of the general population has hypersomnia. The opposite of insomnia, hypersomnia is a sleep disorder that causes people to oversleep and/or sleep irregularly. This type of sleep disruption is common among people with depression. Over time, they struggle to stay awake. In this blog, we’ll offer a closer look at hypersomnia.
Have you been sleeping excessively at night? Do you have trouble staying awake during the day? If you nodded “yes” to both of these questions, you might have developed hypersomnia.
This condition is very different from regular tiredness or fatigue. Patients feel a strong urge to nap continually throughout the day, especially at inappropriate times (at work, in between meals, during conversations, and so on).
They may feel disoriented, anxious, and restless. Energy levels generally go down, and in some cases, thinking abilities, speech, appetite, and memory are also affected.
As stated earlier, people who have depression may develop hypersomnia over time. The condition may also develop due to another preexisting sleep disorder, such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea.
Some forms of addiction (drug, alcohol) can trigger the onset of hypersomnia. In rare cases, injuries to the head or central nervous system can also cause oversleeping.
Accurate, timely diagnosis is imperative. It’s possible that you think you’ve developed hypersomnia but your symptoms are indicative of a different condition.
Avoid self-diagnosing. In many cases, stimulants or drugs may be prescribed for sleep disorders, but if you’re misdiagnosed, your treatment plan may not be effective.
If you’ve been having trouble staying awake, get in touch with an experienced sleep disorder specialist as soon as possible. Poor sleeping habits can lead to other physical and mental disorders. At TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital, our Sleep Center team consists of qualified, trained, and experienced specialists who understand the importance of good sleep. They diagnose and treat common sleep disorders such as insomnia, hypersomnia, obtrusive sleep apnea, sleep hyperventilation, and bruxism, among others.
Based on your age, medical history, lifestyle, symptoms, and condition, your doctor may prescribe lifestyle changes, stimulants (amphetamines, methylphenidates, etc.), or other drugs (levodopa, clonidine, antidepressants, etc.).
As a leading specialty surgical hospital in Houston, we put patient care first. Our team treats a wide range of conditions, from orthopedic issues and breast cancer to chronic pain and feet disorders. We offer hip replacement surgery, pain management treatment, sports injury treatment, breast cancer biopsy, and more. Visit our search page to find the right doctor near you.
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Fax: (281) 715-4525
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