Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Understanding Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences excessive daytime sleepiness but has an adequate or prolonged amount of nighttime sleep. Many persons with IH have difficulty waking up in the morning, and most have prolonged periods of sleep inertia, referred to as “sleep drunkenness.”
Signs and Symptoms:
- An example of a symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS): an unrelenting urge to sleep in the daytime after an adequate night’s sleep.
- Sleep at Night Extended: Sleep lasting more than 9 hours in 24 hours doesn’t leave the person awake refreshed.
- Sleep Inertia: Grogginess, confusion, and difficulty waking up.
- Not Refreshing Naps: Daytime naps that are often lengthy yet do not alleviate sleepiness.
- These can be quite serious and may impact daily functioning in terms of concentration, memory, and quality of life.
Diagnosis:
IH diagnosis generally includes the assessment by a comprehensive work-up to rule out other major causes of excessive sleepiness such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy. This usually includes:
- Thorough Medical History: reviewing sleep patterns and associated symptoms.
- Sleep Studies: Overnight polysomnography followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test to examine sleep latency and rule out other disorders of sleep.
Management Strategies:
IH is not curable, but it is responsive to treatment that works toward symptom management, enabling better wakefulness and functionality throughout the day:
- Medicines: To improve daytime alertness, treatment may employ wakefulness-promoting agents, e.g., modafinil, or stimulants such as methylphenidate.
- Lifestyle Changes: Following predictable bedtime hours, ensuring good sleeping conditions, and scheduling naps are helpful in symptom management.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps in coping with the psychological effects of IH and may, therefore, add to quality of life.
Treatment of IH by Sleepologie:
At Sleepologie Health and Wellness, we specialize in sleep disorders and very much understand the needs of individuals with Idiopathic hypersomnia. Here is an overview of the services we provide:
- Expert Consultation: Our sleep medicine specialists conduct comprehensive evaluations for the definitive characterization of IH.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: We develop individualized strategies combining medication management and lifestyle interventions tailored to each patient’s needs.
- Ongoing Support: Our team provides continued support and monitoring to adjust treatments when appropriate, ensuring optimal management of IH symptoms.
