What causes excessive sleepiness?
Disease description:
Poor sleep quality recently at night, feeling tired during the day, looked it up online, possibly hypersomnia, what is hypersomnia?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Hypersomnia is a condition characterized by persistent excessive sleepiness or difficulty maintaining wakefulness, manifested as an excessive tendency to sleep during the day. It may be caused by the following factors:
1. Sleep disorders: Such as sleep apnea and periodic limb movement disorder, which affect the quality of nighttime sleep and lead to daytime fatigue.
2. Narcolepsy: This condition commonly occurs after puberty and is characterized by uncontrollable daytime sleepiness, possibly accompanied by cataplexy and sleep paralysis.
3. Medication side effects: Certain medications, such as antidepressants, sedatives, antihistamines, and sleeping pills, may cause hypersomnia.
4. Environmental factors: For example, elderly individuals who live in isolation with a monotonous lifestyle and reduced physical fitness are prone to hypersomnia.
5. Endocrine disorders: Conditions such as hypothyroidism and diabetes can affect energy metabolism and lead to hypersomnia.
6. Physical illnesses: Physical problems such as indigestion, hypotension, and diabetes may cause insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in hypersomnia.
7. Malnutrition: Nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12 deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia can lead to fatigue and hypersomnia.
Hypersomnia may be caused by multiple factors, including nutrition, diseases, medications, and environmental influences. If hypersomnia persists or significantly impacts quality of life, timely medical consultation is recommended.
