Understanding Idiopathic Hypersomnia: A Guide

Do you struggle staying awake during the day or do you get uncontrollable sleepiness after eating? You think you had enough sleep, yet you still feel unrested when you wake up. If you are experiencing these conditions, it could indicate you have hypersomnia.

Sleep is vital in maintaining optimum health. It impacts your quality of life, particularly your energy as you perform your daily tasks. If you feel tired after long hours of sleep, you might be suffering from a sleep disorder called idiopathic hypersomnia. This disorder is particularly complicated, which is why this post aims to shed more light on its symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention.

What is hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia is defined as excessive sleepiness during the day. Other names for hypersomnia are hypersomnolence and excessive sleep. A person with this condition may experience excessive yawning or a strong need to sleep even after they had a lot of sleep the night before.

For example, people with an idiopathic type of hypersomnia may sleep for 11 hours and may feel tired after waking up as opposed to feeling refreshed and energetic. Hypersomnia may start in adolescence and early adulthood, depending on the specific type. Evidence shows^[1] hypersomnia affects 4% to 6% of the general population.

What are the symptoms of idiopathic hypersomnia?

The main symptom of this sleep disorder is constant sleepiness. People with hypersomnia may also experience the following:

• Needing long naps

• Difficulty waking up after a long nap

• Brain fog (confusion, inability to focus, forgetfulness, sluggishness)

• Needing at least 11 hours of sleep

• Unrefreshing sleep

• Sleep attacks i.e. falling asleep when and where you don’t want to

• Fatigue

• Irritability

• Anxiety

• Headache

• Loss of appetite

• Hallucinations

What causes idiopathic hypersomnia?

The exact cause of idiopathic hypersomnia is unclear. Neurotransmitters such as hypocretin/orexin, histamine, dopamine, and the chemical messenger in your brain known as GABA could play a role. Among these, hypocretin is particularly important as it is the chemical that regulates sleep and wakefulness. The neurons that release this neurotransmitter are most active during the day.^[2]

Imbalances in neurotransmitters can lead to hypersomnia. On the other hand, genetics is also a potential cause of hypersomnia. Studies confirm^[3] that genetic predisposition may contribute to the onset of this sleep problem.

How do doctors diagnose hypersomnia

To diagnose idiopathic hypersomnia, the doctor takes into consideration your medical history and asks about the symptoms you’re experiencing. If your symptoms relate, the doctor may presume it’s hypersomnia. You may also need to undergo several tests to complete the diagnosis. These tests include:

• Polysomnography: a comprehensive sleep study where a doctor monitors various physiological parameters during sleep. You need to spend the night in a sleep center so that the test^[4] can monitor your eye movements, brain activity, heart rate, leg movements, oxygen levels, and breathing functions while you’re asleep. This test can help identify abnormalities in sleep architecture e.g. frequent awakenings or sleep duration.

• Multiple sleep latency test: this test checks for excessive daytime sleepiness. For this test, you need to take a nap during the day while a device measures brain activity and the number of naps with REM sleep. The goal of this test is to evaluate your tendency to fall asleep^[5] during five, 20-minute nap trials that take place two hours apart.

• Sleep questionnaires: the doctor may ask you to complete a questionnaire and rate your sleepiness. The most common sleep questionnaires are the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). These questionnaires provide valuable information that helps doctors diagnose sleep disorders.

Types of hypersomnia

Hypersomnia is not a single condition that affects everyone the same way. Different types explain why you lay in bed for hours can’t sleep. Aside from idiopathic hypersomnia, there are other types of this sleep condition. They are described below.

Secondary hypersomnia

Secondary hypersomnia is a type of hypersomnia that occurs due to another medical condition. Examples of health problems associated with hypersomnia include:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Epilepsy
• Sleep apnea
• Drug use
• Alcohol use
• Medication use (sedating medications, antihypertensive drugs, anti-epileptic medications, antipsychotics, opiates)
• Nerve damage due to head trauma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Tumor
• Central nervous system damage
• Insufficient sleep syndrome e.g., you’re sleep deprived, you’re tired but can’t sleep

These health conditions affect your sleep and can consequently impact your performance especially if you keep on waking up tired and no energy despite sleeping for long hours.

Make sure to see the doctor if you have the abovementioned health problems and experience sleep-related issues. For instance, you might ask yourself, “Why can’t I sleep at night even when I’m tired?”, this may be because you are consciously or unconsciously depriving yourself of sleep. Your struggle may be due to insufficient sleep syndrome.

Primary hypersomnia

Primary hypersomnia occurs when hypersomnia is the primary condition. This usually happens due to neurological factors. Unlike secondary hypersomnia, this type isn’t related to some underlying causes or medical condition. Idiopathic hypersomnia, which is the main focus of this article, is the main form of primary hypersomnia. It is characterized by feeling sleepy for no apparent reason.

Other types of primary hypersomnia include:

• Narcolepsy type 1: also called narcolepsy with cataplexy, occurs due to low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin (orexin). It develops between the ages of 10 and 25.
• Narcolepsy type 2: doesn’t include cataplexy, begins during adolescence, and has less severe symptoms compared to type 1.
• Kleine-Levin syndrome: recurring episodes of extreme hypersomnia.

Treatment options for hypersomnia

Treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia depends on the underlying cause and the type of the condition. Upon diagnosing the condition, the doctor recommends the most suitable treatment based on your symptoms and their severity. The treatment may include the following approaches:

• Medications: the doctor may prescribe stimulant medications to promote wakefulness. Examples of stimulants include modafinil (Provigil), pitolisant (Wakix), amphetamine (Evekeo), and methylphenidate (Ritalin). Besides stimulants, people with hypersomnia may need to take other medications like antidepressants if they suffer from depressive conditions. Other medications^[6] your doctor may prescribe include sodium oxybate (Xyrem), which is usually given to patients with narcolepsy, flumazenil (Romazicon) to reverse the effects of benzodiazepine sedative, and antibiotic clarithromycin (Biaxin). The exact medication that a doctor prescribes depends on the patient’s overall health and the drugs they’re already taking.

• Behavioral therapy: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often recommended for people with hypersomnia. Evidence confirms^[7] that CBT can decrease depressive symptoms and increase self-efficiency in people with hypersomnolence. Behavioral therapy helps patients with idiopathic hypersomnia understand how their thoughts and behaviors play a role in symptom management. Plus, CBT is beneficial for managing depression.

• Lifestyle changes: modifying your lifestyle is equally important as taking medications. Your doctor may recommend establishing a regular sleeping schedule, limiting caffeine and exercise before bedtime, and making sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and comfortable.

Treatment for hypersomnia may require a combination of the abovementioned options rather than just one approach. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is incredibly useful. For instance, you should prioritize dietary supplements that boost your energy. Nature’s Superfuel Daily Superfood Complex increases your energy levels and enhances performance. This is particularly important because hypersomnia makes you feel tired and affects memory and concentration.

Is it possible to prevent hypersomnia?

There is no way to prevent many forms of hypersomnia. However, you can lower the risk of hypersomnia by reducing or avoiding alcohol intake. You may also want to create a peaceful and comfortable sleeping environment.

Schedule an appointment to see a doctor regarding underlying conditions or symptoms you’re experiencing. Ignoring underlying conditions may lead you to another question such as “Why am I sleeping too much all of a sudden?”. By managing these conditions, you can lower the risk of hypersomnia. Be proactive about your health and wellbeing; don’t ignore your symptoms thinking they will just go away on their own.

FAQs

What triggers idiopathic hypersomnia?

Idiopathic hypersomnia lacks a specific trigger and can result in excessive sleepiness due to a variety of factors. These factors may include genetic predisposition, abnormalities in neurotransmitter function, and disruptions in the brain's regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Stress, environmental influences, and certain medications can exacerbate symptoms. For those seeking relief, consider NUU3 Keep Calm Gummies as a natural option to help manage stress and support relaxation.

Can you live a normal life with idiopathic hypersomnia?

Living with this condition can be quite challenging because it affects a person’s physical and mental health and well-being. Excessive yawning and sleepiness can negatively affect your quality of life, including your social life. For that reason, it’s important to treat this condition and follow the doctor’s recommendations to manage the symptoms. That way, you can improve your quality of life in every aspect.

Can hypersomnia go away?

Hypersomnia is a chronic illness and varies in its course and severity. However, it doesn’t have a cure that would eliminate it. On the other hand, evidence suggests that hypersomnia may spontaneously disappear in 14% to 25% of people^[8]. Although it can be persistent, you can manage symptoms of hypersomnia with proper treatment and modifying your lifestyle.

How many hours does a hypersomnia sleep?

People with hypersomnia may sleep for 10 to 12 hours per night to feel their best. In most severe cases, people with this condition sleep for 12 hours or more. However, they may still experience symptoms such as waking up tired and no energy.

Outlook

This post focused on hypersomnia and the idiopathic type. While it’s impossible to prevent hypersomnia, you can minimize the risk by managing underlying conditions, adopting a healthy lifestyle and regimen and creating a healthy sleeping schedule.

References

1] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181743/
2] ↑https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-aids/orexins
3] ↑https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38253863/
4] ↑https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypersomnia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20362338
5] ↑https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31277864/
6] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558858/
7] ↑https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32804069/
8] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690562/