Are you struggling with too much daytime sleepiness and still experiencing fatigue? Well, you might be dealing with hypersomnia. It is a condition that is more than just the ordinary tiredness. It can seriously affect your daily routine. But no need to worry, as there are effective hypersomnia treatments that entail non-drug options, medications, etc. Before we dive into its treatment section, shall we get into more details on hypersomnia definition. Let’s get started:
What is Hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia refers to a condition that makes you feel quite sleepy during the daytime although you have already attained enough or more than enough sleep. A hypersomnia patient falls asleep frequently during the day. This condition severely affects a patient’s ability to work effectively at work and interact socially. It deteriorates quality of life and may raise the chances of accidents.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, hypersomnia is a medical term used for extreme sleepiness or tiredness. Sleepiness is not due to feeling tired from the dearth of sleep at night. This condition can be resultant from a problem or an injury in the brain.
Causes of Hypersomnia
An accurate hypersomnia treatment is possible if you know its causes. The prominent causes include:
- Extreme drug or alcohol use
- Nervous system dysregulation
- Depression
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Tumour
- Damage to the central nervous system
- Sleep apnea
- Certain medical conditions like head injuries, tumours, epilepsy, encephalitis, and multiple sclerosis are also considered as hypersomnia causes.
Hypersomnia Symptoms
One of the most common hypersomnia symptoms is feeling extreme sleepiness constantly during the day. If you feel excessive sleepiness or sleep-deprived even though you have obtained 10 or more hours of sleep per day then you may be a hypersomnia patient. This condition can develop during childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood. Other symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Low energy
- Restlessness
- Slow thinking and slow speech
- Inability to focus and memory problems
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Weight gain
- Hallucinations
- Ineffective performance in school or at work
Diagnosis of Hypersomnia
To diagnose this condition, your sleep specialist will inquire you about your medical history, symptoms, sleep history, and prevailing medications. Moreover, you may be instructed to wear an actigraphy sensor (the device that tracks interruptions in your sleep-wake cycle over certain weeks).
Other forms of diagnosis may include:
i. Polysomnography:
It is an overnight sleep study test that assesses your breathing patterns, muscle movements, heat rhythms, and brain waves during your sleep.
ii. Multiple sleep latency test:
It refers to a daytime sleep test that evaluates a patient’s inclination to fall asleep during five nap trials (each trial is 20 minutes long) scheduled every two hours. This form of diagnosis records your brain activity along with the number of naps that boasts REM sleep.
Hypersomnia Treatment
The effectiveness of the treatment relies on determining the exact cause. You can opt for medical approaches or simply follow hypersomnia treatment at home. To address the symptoms of this condition, your doctor may advise stimulants or antidepressants.
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Use latest medicines:
Some of the latest medicines used to ease the symptoms of this neurological disorder are Xyrem and Provigil. But make sure to consume these medicines after following your doctor’s prescription.
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Adopting lifestyle changes:
Following certain lifestyle changes can serve as a natural treatment for hypersomnia. Your doctor may advise you to follow a particular sleep schedule to ensure adequate sleep. Obtaining adequate sleep will not let you feel tired or sleepy during the day. Remember to create a soothing environment –by sleeping in a quiet, cool bedroom that doesn’t have any blue light emitting electronic devices.
A regular peaceful sleep will avoid residual drowsiness during waking. You can practise going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day (although it’s the weekend). All you need to do is to ascertain that you get sufficient sleep depending on your lifestyle needs and age.
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Other preventive measures:
Another effective treatment option is to prohibit alcohol consumption to accelerate the hypersomnia cure. Refrain from undergoing dangerous activities (like working on heavy machinery or driving while feeling tired). A physician can conduct your hypersomnia test to accurately diagnose your condition.
Final Thoughts
After getting acquainted with the hypersomnia treatment options and ways to avoid it, you should take effective steps to fix your sleep schedule. Obtaining a decent night’s sleep is inevitable to stay active and feel energetic the whole day. If you find that your conditions are acute and lifestyle changes don’t help much then you can consult your physician. Note that hypersomnia can be hazardous if a patient uses machinery, drives, or does some other work that demands full alertness.
