Hypersomnia' means excessive sleep or sleepiness that interferes with everyday life. It can have many possible causes, including conditions such as
narcolepsy,
sleep apnoea or
restless legs syndrome; severe sleep deprivation;
depression; certain medications (such as tranquillisers); or drug and
alcohol misuse.
However, some people with hypersomnia will not have an underlying medical condition and there will be no obvious explanation for it ? they have it throughout the day, despite sleeping for a very long time at night. This is known as "idiopathic" or primary hypersomnia.
The rest of this page focuses on idiopathic hypersomnia.
Signs and symptoms People with idiopathic hypersomnia struggle to stay awake during the day and are usually compelled to take frequent long naps. These may be prolonged or at inappropriate times ? such as during a conversation or meal, or even while driving ? and generally don't provide any relief from the sleepiness.
Most people with idiopathic hypersomnia also sleep for more than 10 hours a night and struggle to wake in the morning, because they feel very drowsy and confused upon waking ("sleep drunkenness"), although some people sleep for a regular amount of time (about eight hours) and are able to wake relatively normally.
The excessive sleepiness may have a negative impact on the person's work, relationships and social life, and they may also:
- have mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- have low energy
- be restless or agitated
- think or speak slowly
- have trouble remembering things or maintaining concentration
- perform behaviours around the house as if on ?autopilot?
These symptoms often develop during adolescence or in a person's early twenties, although they can occur earlier or later in life.