Hypersomnia (cont.)

There are several potential causes of hypersomnia, including:

• The sleep disorders narcolepsy (daytime sleepiness) and sleep apnea (interruptions of breathing during sleep)
  
  
• Not getting enough sleep at night (sleep deprivation)
  
  
• Being overweight
  
  
• Drug or alcohol abuse
  
  
• A head injury or a neurological disease, such as multiple sclerosis
  
  
• Prescription drugs, such as tranquilizers
  
  
• Genetics (having a relative with hypersomnia)

If you consistently feel drowsy during the day, talk to your doctor. In making a diagnosis of hypersomnia, your doctor will ask you about your sleeping habits, how much sleep you get at night, if you wake up at night, and whether you fall asleep during the day. Your doctor will also want to know if you are having any emotional problems or are taking any medications that may be interfering with your sleep.

Your doctor may also order some tests, including blood tests, computed tomography (CT) scans, and a sleep test called polysomnography. In some cases, an additional electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures the electrical activity of the brain, is needed.

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Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/hypersomnia/article.htm