Hypersomnia: A More Common Sleep Disorder Than Previously Thought

An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder¹, and many experts view sleep deprivation as a significant public health issue². Disordered sleep may be short- or long-term and can have wide-reaching implications, including on physical health³, mental well-being⁴, cognitive function⁵ and all-around quality of life⁶.

While some types of sleep disorders⁷ are fairly well known, including restless legs syndrome⁸, insomnia⁹ and sleep apnea¹⁰, others have less public awareness. For example, relatively few people are familiar with REM sleep behavior disorder¹¹ and not many know about idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) — the focus of this article. Keep reading to learn more about this sleep condition, which appears to be more common than previously believed.

What Is Idiopathic Hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia¹², also known as hypersomnolence, refers to when a person feels excessively sleepy throughout the daytime. It is often the primary condition, for example, because of narcolepsy¹³ or neurological issues, or a secondary side effect from diverse conditions, including medication or substance use, tumors, depression or injury to nerves or the central nervous system¹⁴.

In medicine, the term idiopathic¹⁵ generally refers to a condition with no recognizable cause. Therefore, idiopathic hypersomnia¹⁶ is a disorder where individuals experience ongoing fatigue and difficulties remaining awake during the day with no known cause. Because IH is a rare condition¹⁷, it doesn't receive as much press as other sleep complaints.

Symptoms of IH and Impacts on Daily Life

Idiopathic hypersomnia is marked by several symptoms¹⁸, including:

• Difficulty waking up
• Confusion or disorientation upon waking¹⁹
• Increased sleep duration that significantly exceeds typical sleep recommendations²⁰
• Enhanced need for daytime sleep, regardless of setting or activity
• Ongoing tiredness following naps
• Waking up feeling unrefreshed

Individuals may also experience wide-ranging symptoms associated with lack of sleep²¹, such as:

• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Apathy
• Restlessness
• Forgetfulness
• Brain fog²²
• Slow reactions
• Altered appetite
• Impaired judgment

Symptoms of idiopathic hypersomnia can have a range of impacts on day-to-day life, some of which can have lasting repercussions. In addition to discomfort because of constant sleepiness, IH can affect people's productivity, reliability and punctuality in the workplace. It can have a negative effect on studies and learning. People may have issues managing a healthy social life, keeping on top of domestic chores and maintaining leisure activities. IH can hinder relationships in all areas of life, including with romantic partners, friends, family members and colleagues. Indeed, some experts refer to IH as debilitating²³.

New Discoveries About Idiopathic Hypersomnia

In the past, IH was thought to affect a small section of the American population. In the United States, fewer than 81,000 individuals received an IH diagnosis²⁴ in 2019. This figure rose slightly to around 89,500 in 2020 and 92,100 in 2021.

However, research published in early 2024 indicates that the problem is more prevalent than previously thought²⁵. Moreover, researchers now believe that the incidence of IH aligns with that of other common psychiatric and neurologic conditions.

Despite this new knowledge, diagnostic challenges may still lead to people unknowingly suffering from idiopathic hypersomnia. That said, new approaches to testing, evolving therapies and advances in sleep research offer hope for greater understanding, diagnosis and management of IH and other sleep conditions²⁶.

Treatment Options and Management Tips for IH

People living with IH have several treatment options available, including lifestyle changes and the use of stimulant medications. Creating a structured nap schedule and modifying work hours may help people manage their symptoms. New treatment options and research offer greater hope for the future.

If you think you have idiopathic hypersomnia, seek advice from a medical professional.

References

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – Sleep Health
2. American Association for the Advancement of Science – Sleep Deprivation Described as a Public Health Problem
3. National Library of Medicine – Sleep Disorders and Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem
4. Mind – How to cope with sleep problems
5. BMC Public Health – Sleep disturbance is associated with mild cognitive impairment: a community population-based cross-sectional study
6. Science Direct – Quality of life in sleep disorders
7. Cleveland Clinic – Sleep Disorders
8. Johns Hopkins Medicine – Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
9. SoClean – Types of Insomnia
10. MedlinePlus – Sleep Apnea
11. SoClean – Sleep Issues: REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
12. Healthline – What to know about hypersomnia
13. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – Narcolepsy
14. National Library of Medicine – Anatomy, Central Nervous System
15. National Library of Medicine – How do we define the term idiopathic?
16. National Library of Medicine – Idiopathic Hypersomnia
17. WebMD – The Mystery Behind Idiopathic Hypersomnia
18. Mount Sinai – Idiopathic hypersomnia
19. JAMA Psychiatry – Hypersomnia With "Sleep Drunkenness"
20. SoClean – Finding the Sweet Spot - How Many Hours of Sleep is Best?
21. Cedars Sinai – Sleep Deprivation
22. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry – What is brain fog?
23. National Library of Medicine – Impairment in Functioning and Quality of Life in Patients with Idiopathic Hypersomnia: The Real World Idiopathic Hypersomnia Outcomes Study (ARISE)
24. Sleep – 0838 Diagnosed Prevalence of Idiopathic Hypersomnia Among Adults in the United States
25. Neurology – Prevalence and Course of Idiopathic Hypersomnia in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study
26. Practical Neurology – Spotlight on Sleep: Updates in Diagnosis and Treatment of Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia