What is Hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia refers to either excessive sleepiness during the day or extended, overly long periods of nighttime sleep. This common sleep disorder affects nearly 5 percent of the US population with a focus on teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 30 years old.

The reasons for hypersomnia can include: work changes, family demands (such as a new baby), study or social life. Other causes include sleep disorders, medication and medical and psychiatric illnesses. However, doctors agree that hypersomnia can be helped or cured with a few adjustments to lifestyle habits.

Some symptoms of hypersomnia may include:
- Feeling unusually tired all the time
- The need for daytime naps
- Feeling drowsy, despite sleeping and napping
- Difficulty thinking and making decisions: the mind feels "foggy"
- Apathy
- Memory or concentration difficulties
- An increased risk of accidents, especially motor vehicle accidents