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Home Health Sleep Excessive Sleepiness during the Day: More to It Than Meets the Eye
Excessive Sleepiness during the Day: More to It Than Meets the Eye PDF Print E-mail
Written by Marc MacDonald   
Sleep disorders have an unobtrusive and stealthy way of entering our lives. Take the example of a situation which is marked by excessive sleepiness during the day. Initially, it all seems harmless. It ends up with most of us ignoring such minor developments as part of a passing phase. But once left untreated, the same seemingly inoffensive signs worsen and pave way for incredible suffering and distress, in no time.
by MarcMacDonald


Sleep disorders have an unobtrusive and stealthy way of entering our lives. Take the example of a situation which is marked by excessive sleepiness during the day. Initially, it all seems harmless. It ends up with most of us ignoring such minor developments as part of a passing phase. But once left untreated, the same seemingly inoffensive signs worsen and pave way for incredible suffering and distress, in no time.

What is the most common perception of feeling excessively sleepy? Either it is due to over-work at home or office; too many consecutive late nights; or something as simple as minor and temporary sleep deprivation.

What most people do not know is that it could be indicative of several types of sleep disorders, many of which are not only distressful in the short run but also entails life-threatening consequences.

Symptom that sends confusing signals

Because of the fact that excessive daytime sleepiness precedes the onset of more than one sleep disorder, it results in frequent misdiagnosis of the problem. For example, it is a prominent sign shared by both primary and idiopathic hypersomnia; but it could also mean Narcolepsy. Thankfully, there are several subtle differences amongst such sleep disorders which help the doctor for arriving at a final diagnosis. An example is sleep apnea which sets in when the patient is about 50 years of age; the age of onset of other sleep disorders is much earlier.

Chances are high that it is linked to hypersomnolence

What is hypersomnolence? Excessive daytime sleepiness is medically known as hypersomnolence and the name of the disorder is hypersomnia.

Hypersomnolence has been identified as a 'rare disease' by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and currently 200,000 people in the US are its victims.

What are the other signs of this illness?

- Sleepiness that hits him or her anytime and anywhere.
- Recurrent daytime naps that last for about 30 minutes. However, such naps do not leave him rejuvenated.
- A likelihood of sleeping more than 10 hours; feeling of confusion and disorientation.
- Impaired speech and reflexes; reduced thinking speed, memory lapses, hallucinations, reduced appetite, etc.
- The first signs are visible between 15 and 30 years of age. Usually 40% patients display all the symptoms during the course of the illness.
- Very poor response to therapy, despite doctors' best efforts.

Therapy package

Treatments involve professional counseling for family and friends, self-help, lifestyle changes and medication.
- Family counseling is important as everyone involved with the patient needs to understand the various facets of the illness; this also helps the patient to cope better.
- Self-help includes physical exercise, weight loss, and doing relaxation exercises before bedtime, quitting alcohol and other psychoactive substances like caffeine, nicotine, etc.
- Lifestyle modifications include maintaining better sleep routine, avoiding late night socializing, etc.

Recommended drugs for the management of excessive sleepiness during the day are:
- Modafinil, sodium oxybate, amphetamine, methamphetamine, dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, and selegiline
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), clonidine, levodopa, bromocriptine, amantadine, and methysergide.

About the Author:

Know more about excessive sleepiness during the day. Visit Marc MacDonald's site where you can get important facts on Primary Idiopathic Hypersomnia and how you can properly handle this sleep disorder.

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