Definition:
Prolonged nighttime sleep or recurrent episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness are among the characteristics of Hypersomnia.
Diagnosis:
Basing on your experience of both sudden loss of muscle tone and excessive daytime sleepiness, a doctor may make a preliminary diagnosis of Hypersomnia. For further studies and evaluation, the doctor may also refer you to a sleep specialist.
Treatment:
Although daytime sleepiness has no cure, lifestyle modifications and medications may help manage symptoms. Among the medications are antidepressants, sodium oxybate (Xyrem) and stimulants that stimulate the central nervous system, letting people stay awake during the day.
Symptoms and Signs:
Excessive daytime sleepiness which is characterized by overwhelming drowsiness, falling asleep without warning at any time and anywhere or having an uncontrollable need to sleep during the day are among the symptoms of Hypersomnia.
Other symptoms of daytime sleepiness include sleep paralysis, where a person experiences having a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking and sudden loss of muscle tone.
Causes:
The potential causes of Hypersomnia include central autonomic nervous system dysfunction, brain tumor, side effect of medication, head injury, sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, drug or alcohol abuse and as well as the Kleine-Levin syndrome which causes recurring periods of excessive sleeping, irritability, disorientation, binge eating and hypersensitivity to noise.
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