Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) is different from feeling tired all the time.

If you have hypersomnia, you may:

• regularly nap during the day
• fall asleep during the day
• still sleep for long hours at night

• you often fall asleep during the day
• sleepiness is affecting your life

To find out why you're sleeping excessively, a GP might:

• ask you about possible causes of your sleepiness, such as mental or physical health problems, or any medicines you may be taking
• suggest you keep a diary of when you sleep
• refer you to a doctor who specialises in sleep disorders

Treatment for excessive sleepiness will depend on what's causing it. It may include medicine to help keep you awake.

Sometimes other conditions may be related to excessive sleepiness (hypersomnia). These conditions can have additional symptoms.

Some medicines, drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness.

Idiopathic hypersomnia

Idiopathic hypersomnia is when someone sleeps for long periods and wakes up feeling confused or irritable (known as sleep inertia) and not refreshed.

There's no known cause for idiopathic hypersomnia.

Changing your sleep habits may not cure excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), but it might help you feel better.

Try to:

• go to bed at the same time every night
• avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine
• create a peaceful sleeping environment
• if possible, avoid medicines that can cause drowsiness
• avoid working late into the night

It might also help to talk to your family and friends about your excessive daytime sleepiness so they're aware of it.

Symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness can include falling asleep during the day or having regular naps as well as sleeping for long hours at night.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is sometimes linked to other conditions such as sleep apnoea, depression, narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome.

To find out why you sleep excessively, a GP may check your mental and physical health or refer you to a sleep disorder specialist.

There are things you can try to help excessive daytime sleepiness, such as going to bed at the same time each night and avoiding alcohol or caffeine.