Still Tired After Sleeping?

The Reason May Be Hypersomnia, Also Called Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. Sleep Apnea is a Common Cause.

It’s not unusual: you wake up after a good night’s sleep—and still feel tired and groggy. But if this happens frequently—more than twice a week or over a few months—you may have a condition called hypersomnia.

Hypersomnia is a sleep disorder whose primary symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness. Studies demonstrate that as many as 20 percent of people experience it.

People with this condition may fall asleep at any time: while watching TV, working, or driving. So it can seriously impair people’s ability to function at their best at home, school, or work. And it can increase their risk of accidents.

Says Robert Miller, Apria Healthcare Vice President of Sleep Business, “Hypersomnia can be a distressing condition, especially for people with sleep apnea who already face the challenge of getting a good night’s sleep.”

This post provides an overview of hypersomnia: its types, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Two Types Of Hypersomnia

Each has different causes and treatments, but both have one thing in common: excessive sleepiness.

Secondary hypersomnia

This means that excessive sleepiness is caused by an underlying health condition, such as sleep apnea.

Other causes of secondary hypersomnia include:

Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson’s disease
Epilepsy
Kidney failure
Central nervous system diseases
Head trauma
Tumor
Obesity
Drug or alcohol use
Mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder

Primary hypersomnia

This means that hypersomnia is its own condition—and not caused by an underlying health issue. The following conditions are classified as primary hypersomnia:

Narcolepsy: a sleep disorder that causes you to fall asleep suddenly during the day.
Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS): a rare disorder where people experience excessive sleeping—as much as 20 hours a day—that lasts a few days and as long as a few weeks. KLS mainly affects young males.
Idiopathic hypersomnia: in this condition, the cause of hypersomnia is unknown.

The Symptoms of Hypersomnia

Beyond excessive sleepiness, other symptoms include:

Unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep
Inability to focus or concentrate
Memory problems
Difficulty waking up
Increased anxiety and irritability
Decreased energy
Slow thinking and speech
Hallucinations
Restlessness
Headaches
Loss of appetite

Who’s At Risk for Hypersomnia?

People who have underlying conditions associated with secondary hypersomnia (sleep apnea, kidney failure, epilepsy, etc.) are at risk for hypersomnia, plus those with the following conditions:

Heart conditions
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Low thyroid function
Nervous system conditions

People who smoke or drink are at increased risk of developing hypersomnia.

Hypersomnia is more common in women than men. It’s often diagnosed in adolescence or young adulthood (17 to 24 years) but can occur at any time.

Research reveals that in 10-15% of people with hypersomnia, symptoms resolve on their own for no apparent reason.

Diagnosing Hypersomnia

Your doctor or sleep medicine specialist may use the following tools to help obtain an accurate diagnosis:

Polysomnogram: performed at a sleep clinic overnight. A device monitors your heart rate, breathing patterns, brain waves, eye movements, oxygen levels, and body position.
Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT): measures how quickly you fall asleep during daytime naps. It is often performed the day after a polysomnogram.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale: a questionnaire that rates a person’s sleepiness to determine the severity of their condition.
A sleep diary: Your healthcare provider may ask you to record your wake and sleep times and any symptoms you experience to better understand your sleeping patterns.

Treating Hypersomnia

Once you’ve been accurately diagnosed, your doctor will be better able to prescribe the most effective treatment, which will be based on the type of hypersomnia you have and if you have an underlying condition.

Following are some examples of hypersomnia therapies.

CPAP for secondary hypersomnia due to sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is one of the most common causes of hypersomnia. A popular, proven method for treating it is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).

CPAP involves wearing a mask that fits comfortably over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine by your bed that provides a constant, quiet flow of pressurized air to keep your airways open so you can breathe—and sleep—normally.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medications that help keep you awake. Your doctor will recommend the most appropriate option depending on the severity of your hypersomnia and overall health.

Lifestyle changes

Establish a sleep routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Create a comfortable sleep space. Keep your bedroom well-ventilated, dark, and cool. Pick comfy pillows, sheets, and blankets.
Curb caffeine. Stay away from caffeinated products such as coffee, cola, and chocolate, before bedtime.
Say no to alcohol and nicotine. Both are stimulants.
Avoid dangerous activities. Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery when you are tired.

Say Goodnight to Hypersomnia

Hypersomnia isn’t a life-threatening condition, but it can negatively impact your life. Apria’s Robert Miller adds, "By working closely with your doctor to treat hypersomnia or any underlying conditions, you can manage your excessive daytime sleepiness. So you can be more alert and productive throughout the day.”

References
1. Newsom, R. (Updated 2023, August 8). Hypersomnia. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/hypersomnia.
2. (Updated 2021, October 27). Hypersomnia. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21591-hypersomnia.
3. (Updated 2022, February 27). About Idiopathic Hypersomnia.
Hypersomnia Foundation. https://www.hypersomniafoundation.org/ih/.
4. Stubblefield, H. (Updated 2023, March 10). What to know about hypersomnia. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/hypersomnia.
5. (2021. August 14). Sleep and Hypersomnia. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/hypersomnia.
6. Dunleavy, B.P., Lawler, M. (2023, February 23). What Is Hypersomnia? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep/excessive-daytime-sleepiness-facts/.
7. (Updated 2021, November 18). Feeling Exhausted? Hypersomnia and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee. https://sleepcenterinfo.com/blog/feeling-exhausted-hypersomnia-and-excessive-daytime-sleepiness/.

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