Hypersomnia
What is hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia refers to excessive need for sleep or excessive sleepiness. Hypersomnia is a characteristic symptom of narcolepsy, but it may also be a condition on its own. One could be sleepy without having narcolepsy or having another sleep disorder. The condition is then called primary hypersomnia because it is sleepiness without a known or identifiable cause.
Is hypersomnia common?
It is thought that hypersomnia affects about 1 in 20 people.
Is hypersomnia harmful?
Hypersomnia, or excessive sleepiness is always potentially harmful in that if one is excessively sleepy, there is a tendency to fall asleep doing complicated tasks such as driving, and meeting up in accidents because of falling asleep at the wheel, or if one is operating machinery. Or in a variety of areas where one's wakefulness, alertness, and concentration is required. So therefore, hypersomnia is by definition potentially harmful. Not only to oneself, but to others.
How can hypersomnia be treated?
Hypersomnia can be treated. The medications used for the treatment of hypersomnia are similar, or in most instances, the same medications that I use to treat narcolepsy.
