The Symptoms and Causes of Hypersomnia

Hypersomnia is a disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness. It is a condition that is opposite to insomnia, in which people have trouble staying awake during the day. People who have hypersomnia are able to fall asleep at any point in time, whether it be during work or while they’re driving. The National Sleep Foundation has reported that up to 40% of Americans have experienced hypersomnia symptoms at some point in their life.

Sleep Too Much? It May Be Detrimental To Your Health

Sleep is an important part of one’s daily cycle, allowing the body to shut down and recover from what it has endured throughout the day. Experts recommend the average adult sleeps seven to nine hours per night, as too little or too much sleep can actually be harmful to your body. Oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical illnesses including diabetes, heart disease and increased risk of death.

Oversleeping has also been linked to depression and low socioeconomic status. When a person is sick, the body feels fatigued throughout the day. People with low socioeconomic status may not have healthcare and some illnesses may go undiagnosed.

People with hypersomnia, a medical disorder causing a person to oversleep, suffer from extreme sleepiness throughout the day. It also causes them to sleep for an unusually long time at night. Many people with hypersomnia experience anxiety, lack of energy, and memory problems as a result of their nearly constant need for sleep.