Do you sleep for long hours but still wake up feeling drained or find yourself fighting to stay awake during the day? You may be experiencing hypersomnia, a condition that causes excessive sleepiness despite plenty of rest. At The Sleep Medicine Institute in Tampa, Florida, Lara Wittine, MD, FAASM, provides expert evaluation and treatment to help you restore healthy, refreshing sleep. If you’re ready to get to the root of the problem and receive treatment, call the office today or schedule your appointment online.
Hypersomnia is a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness, even after getting what should be a good night’s rest. People with hypersomnia may sleep longer than usual but still feel groggy, disoriented, or unrefreshed when they wake up.
It can interfere with work and relationships, as it often makes it difficult to stay awake during everyday activities like driving, reading, or having conversations.
Feeling tired occasionally is normal, especially after a late night, stress, or illness. However, hypersomnia goes beyond typical fatigue. It’s persistent and often unrelated to your sleep schedule or lifestyle.
If you have hypersomnia, you may sleep 10 hours yet still struggle to function during the day. Unlike ordinary tiredness, hypersomnia doesn’t improve with naps or extra rest, signaling an underlying issue that needs medical attention.
Signs that your fatigue might be more than just tiredness include:
If you struggle with any of the above, make an appointment at The Sleep Medicine Institute.
Hypersomnia can have several causes. Primary hypersomnia occurs when your brain’s sleep-wake cycle isn’t properly regulated, causing excessive sleepiness without another condition involved.
Secondary hypersomnia, which is more common, may result from untreated sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
Other possible causes include:
Dr. Wittine can uncover the underlying cause of your hypersomnia and provide effective treatment.
Dr. Wittine takes a detailed, personalized approach to your diagnosis. Evaluation begins with a thorough medical history and review of your symptoms and sleep patterns.
She may recommend an overnight sleep study or a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) through affiliated hospital sleep labs. These tests track how quickly you fall asleep and enter different sleep stages to identify the type and cause of hypersomnia.
Treatment depends on the cause. It may include improving sleep habits, adjusting medications, or prescribing stimulants or wake-promoting medications. When hypersomnia gets linked to another sleep disorder, treating that condition often reduces symptoms.
Book an appointment with Dr. Wittine today by phone or online.