Are you sleepy all day? It might not just be tired (Hypersomnia)

Sometimes we wish we could take a nap at work or while listening to a lecture, right? It's very common. But we're not talking about that kind of sleepiness today. If you get enough sleep at night, maybe even 8-9 hours, but you feel uncontrollable sleepiness during the day, meaning you fall asleep at times and places you don't want to, it could be a medical condition called hypersomnia .

Simply put, what is hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia, simply put, is excessive, uncontrollable sleepiness during the day. This is not just sleepiness caused by fatigue. Think of it like your phone battery being charged overnight, but quickly running low by midday. Even if you sleep well at night, your body and brain don't have the energy to stay awake during the day.

This situation can have a big impact on your daily life.

• I can't do my schoolwork or work properly.
• Your relationships with family and friends may be affected.
• The most important thing is that the risk of accidents increases significantly. Imagine what could happen if you fell asleep without even realizing it while driving a vehicle, traveling on the road, or working with machinery.

Do you also have these symptoms?

In addition to daytime sleepiness, hypersomnia can also cause a number of other symptoms. Let's take a look at what they are.

Why is this happening? What are the reasons?

In fact, most of the time, even doctors can't find the exact cause. When someone develops hypersomnia for no apparent reason, it's called idiopathic hypersomnia . This is the most common type.

However, researchers are still investigating possible causes, including:

• The body's immune system becomes overactive after some viral infections.
• Some changes in the brain.
• Genetic variations.
• Problems with the chemicals (neurotransmitters) that carry information in the brain.

There are two main types of hypersomnia:

Doctors divide this condition into two main parts. It's easy for you to understand.

1. Primary Hypersomnia

This is not due to any other disease, but rather the underlying condition of Hypersomnia. There are three types of this:

• Idiopathic hypersomnia: As we discussed earlier, this is the type where no cause can be found.
• Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS): This is a very rare condition. A person with this condition can sleep for 16-20 hours a day at a time.
• Narcolepsy: This is a condition in which the brain cannot control sleep and wakefulness. You fall asleep suddenly and unexpectedly.

2. Secondary Hypersomnia

This means that hypersomnia is caused by another health problem, medication, or other external cause. This means that it is a symptom of another disease.

How does a doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor, he will ask you about your sleep and your symptoms. So it's very important to be honest and tell him what you're feeling.

After that, the doctor may suggest some tests like these:

• Sleep journal: For a few days, you will be asked to write down things like when you go to bed, when you wake up, and when you take a nap during the day.
• Sleep study: A test that monitors things like your brain waves, breathing, and heart rate while you sleep, in a hospital or special center.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MLST): This tests how quickly you fall asleep during the day.
• Sleep questionnaires: You can use standardized questionnaires like the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to measure your sleepiness.

Well, what treatment can be done now?

There is no one-size-fits-all "cure" for hypersomnia. However, it can be managed well and the impact on your life can be greatly reduced. Doctors usually recommend a combination of treatments.

• Medications: There are specific medications that can help you stay awake during the day. Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate medication for your condition.
• Improved sleep hygiene: This is very important. Get into the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Avoid drinking coffee, tea, alcohol, and exercising a few hours before bed. Make your bedroom a dark, quiet place.
• Therapy: If a condition like depression is causing this, it is essential to seek treatment for it. Counseling can also help you talk through the impact the condition is having on your life and relationships.
• Treating the underlying cause: If you have secondary hypersomnia, treating the underlying condition will help reduce your sleepiness.

Be especially careful when driving!

This is something you should definitely keep in mind. If you have hypersomnia, you should definitely ask your doctor if it is safe to drive. It is very important to think about your own safety and the safety of others.