rancha.xyz Be free to choose their own route to self-knowledge, health and balance of body and soul.
Hypersomnia is estimated to affect approximately 4 to 6% of the population. It is a common complaint that is often not fully identified… not even by those who suffer from it. It is often confused with tiredness or fatigue, and its origins can be very different. Therefore, to achieve the goal in the intervention, the best starting point is an accurate assessment.
Although many people have managed to normalize the presence of this excessive sleepiness in their lives, the consequences are important. Problems with concentration and memory often arise.
Furthermore, there are changes in mood and a great interference in daily activities. Next, we will try to learn more about this neurological condition and its possible causes.
What is hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia is also known as excessive daytime sleepiness. We speak of a physiological state that promotes sleep at inappropriate times or times of the day. Thus, the person experiences a subjective sensation of sleep during the day, which hinders their normal functioning. To reach the diagnosis of hypersomnia, it is necessary for this symptom to occur daily, for at least three months.
It’s not always easy to identify what exactly is going on. Many people may think they are excessively tired without being quite sure why. To facilitate the detection of hypersomnia, we should think about the degree to which we feel sleepy in situations such as:
- Watching TV.
- Riding as a passenger in a car on journeys of one hour.
- Sitting in a public space such as a movie theater or a lecture.
- Reading a book.
- Resting sitting after eating.
If you usually have a strong feeling of sleep in these situations, you may have this syndrome. However, the causes that cause it are varied and can differ significantly from one person to another. Thus, it will be important to explore the source in order to prevent and alleviate its consequences.
What is the origin of hypersomnia?
Insufficient quantity or quality of sleep
To function properly during the day, we all need to have long enough and restorative rest periods at night. When we chronically sleep less than recommended, sleep deprivation takes its toll. Thus, hypersomnia can be found in those who tend to sleep five hours or less a night, continuously.
This can occur due to insomnia problems as a result of a lifestyle in which the person decides to restrict their sleep hours for professional or social reasons. As a result, it is difficult to get up in the morning and they may experience sudden bouts of drowsiness during the day.
Likewise, if nighttime sleep is disrupted or fragmented, it will not be restorative enough. People with maintenance insomnia, restless legs syndrome, or breathing disorders may wake up at various times during the night. This promotes the consequent decrease in sleep quality and the onset of hypersomnia.
primary sleep disorders
Several disorders have hypersomnia as one of their main symptoms. For example, narcolepsy often begins with excessive daytime sleepiness to which other symptoms are later added, such as cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations.
Likewise, disorders such as idiopathic hypersomnia and Kleine-Levin syndrome occur with this symptom. In them, there is a considerable increase in the total hours of sleep, as well as more or less irresistible bouts of daytime sleep.
other causes
Among the multiple causes of excessive daytime sleepiness we can also find encephalopathies, traumas or dementias. This can even be a symptom of depressive episodes or be caused by the consumption of certain medications.
In short, it is a symptom common to innumerable organic, neurological and psychic conditions. Its presence hinders the functional and satisfactory life of those who suffer from it, as their cognitive functions and emotional state can be altered.
If you think you or someone close to you might find yourself in this situation, it’s important to see a doctor. In some cases, this symptom will alert us to the presence of other conditions that require intervention. In others, it will simply invite us to be more careful and regular with our sleep patterns.
