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Hypersomnia is a condition that is characterized by excessive episodes of daytime sleepiness or a longer time of sleep during night. Hypersomnia can be caused by medications, sleeping disorders, medical and psychiatric illness.
Symptoms of hypersomnia
- Frequently having naps during the day, sometimes at inappropriate times such as at work, in a conversation and during a meal. These daytime naps do not provide relief from the symptoms.
- The affected person has difficulty waking from a long time of sleep and feels disoriented.
- Restlessness
- Slow thinking and slow in speech
- Hallucination and difficulty with memory
- Reduced energy
- Anxiety and irritability
- Increased risk of accidents
Causes of hypersomnia
- Hypersomnia can be caused by other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy which is the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, alcohol abuse or drug.
- Medicine widrawal can also cause hypersomnia.
- Physical conditions such as head trauma, tumor, and injury to the central nervous system.
- Long hours of working and overtime that is done for months or years before the symptoms of sleepiness can take effect such as teenagers who stay out until the mornings on weekends and becomes tired during the week.
- Suffering from anxiety can keep the affected person awake all night which make them susceptible to sleepiness during the day.
- A partner that is snoring, noisy neighbors, heat, cold and sleeping on an uncomfortable bed
- It is difficult to sleep when working during shifts, especially the night shift. There is problem in trying to sleep and the effects of being out of sync of the internal clock of the body.
- Changes in the time zone such as jet lag
- Taking medications, caffeinated beverages, alcohol sleeping pills can cause disruption of the sleeping patterns.
Treatment and home remedies of hypersomnia
- Avoid doing night work and social activities that will cause a delay in bed time and avoid alcohol and caffeine.
- Go to bed at the scheduled time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.
- Perform exercises at for at least 20-30 minutes every day since it helps people sleep. Perform exercises about 4-5 hours before going to sleep.
- Avoid taking a nap too late in the day since it can affect the night time sleeping schedule and makes it difficult to fall asleep at the regular scheduled bed time.
- Take a warm bath, read magazines and listen to music helps to make it easier in falling asleep and sleep until sunlight.
- Keep a comfortable temperature in the bedroom since intense temperatures can cause disruption in sleeping or prevent from falling asleep.
If there is difficulty falling asleep at night or there is always a feeling of tiredness in the next day, it is time to seek medical help immediately.