Hypersomnia

This condition affects nearly 5% of the population, the age groups most affected are teenagersand young adults. Idiopathic hypersomnia has been described as a disorder of the central nervous system which results in prolonged sleep periods of non-rapid eye movement sleep.

Hypersomnia symptoms may manifest as recurrent episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness, or excessive nightime sleep. People with this problem tend to nap repeatedly throughout the daytime hours, unfortunately their constant need to nap fails to alleviate their symptoms of tiredness, but rather seems to exacerbate them.

People with hypersomnia tend to fall asleep at inappropriate times, it may be at work, during mealtimes, while socializing, or while driving. The possibility that they may fall asleep while driving poses a danger not only to themselves, but to others as well.

People with hypersomnia may experience great difficulty waking after a long sleep. When aroused they may be irritable, disoriented, lethargic, and generally appear not to have benefited one iota from their lengthy sleep.
During the daytime in between their naps they have may have difficulty functioning in their occupation, or socially.

 What causes hypersomnia? There may be any number of causes for this condition, however, the primary possible cause to be considered is sleep apnea or narcolepsy, although the latter condition, narcolepsy, involves sudden sleep attacks. Another possibility could be head trauma, even what may seem to have been only a slight bump to the head, should be investigated in these circumstances.

 Recreational or prescription drugs or alcohol may be the root cause of the problem, and the condition can easily be resolved by eliminating the drugs and the alcohol. The person could be suffering the after effects of drug withdrawl, one would need to consider both possibilites here.

There are any number of disease states which may cause hypersomnia, such as a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, depression, and  epilepsy. The condition may also be the result of a post viral infection which was associated with neurological symptoms such as : Guillain-Barre syndrome, or infectious mononucleosis.

A condition known as Kleine-Levin syndrome may also involve periods of hypersomnia. This syndrome may result from infections, head trauma, or alcohol and may last for some years after the precipitating event. Males are affected more than females,the age of onset being around 15 years.

Hypersomnia is not well understood, however, so far evidence suggests that the condition may result from a malfunction of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which explains why the condition has been treated with Parkinson's drugs.

Read more:Narcolepsy Symptoms and its Cause