Hypersomnia and Unani Treatment

Hypersomnia is the opposite of insomnia. People with hypersomnia sleep too much. Of course, "too much" is a subjective evaluation. You can always argue that the person "needs" that much sleep, and in reality, there is no fixed amount of sleep that's right for everyone.But serious medical people try to define hypersomnia as a real medical phenomenon. It is an excessively deep or prolonged major sleep period. Persons with hypersomnia are compelled to nap repeatedly during the day, often at inappropriate times such as at work, during a meal, or in conversation. These daytime naps usually provide no relief from symptoms.

Like insomnia, hypersomnia can have many causes, and in many or most cases, the cause is unknown. Some people appear to have a genetic predisposition to hypersomnia. It may be associated with difficulty in awakening. It is believed to be caused by the central nervous system and can be associated with a normal or prolonged major sleep episode and excessive sleepiness consisting of prolonged (1-2 hours) sleep episodes of non-REM sleep. The onset is insidious (gradually, so you are not aware of it at first). Hypersomnia typically affects adolescents and young adults. This condition typically appears before age 25.

Symptoms

A person with hypersomnia may sleep up to twelve hours a night, and still need frequent daytime naps. Most hypersomnia is idiopathic, or periodic, and episodes may occur weeks or months apart. If the condition is diagnosed as recurrent hypersomnia, this is also called Kleine-Levin Syndrome. Post-traumatic stress disorder sometimes includes hypersomnia as a symptom.

Patients often have difficulty waking from a long sleep, and may feel disoriented. Other symptoms may include anxiety, increased irritation, decreased energy, restlessness, slow thinking, slow speech, loss of appetite, hallucinations, and memory difficulty. Some patients lose the ability to function in family, social, occupational, or other settings.

Causes

 Hypersomnia may be caused by another sleep disorder (such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea), dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, or drug or alcohol abuse. In some cases it results from a physical problem, such as a tumor, head trauma, or injury to the central nervous system. Certain medications, or medicine withdrawal, may also cause hypersomnia. 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 sclerosisPrescription drugs, such as tranquilizers , Genetics (having a relative with hypersomnia)

Diagnosis:

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, 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.

Unani Treatment:
1. Decoction of Barg Gauzaban, Khatmi, Khubbazi each 3 gm, Ustookhudoos, Khulanjan each 2 gm along with Khameera Banafsa 10 gm twice daily.
2. Jawarish Kamooni Kabeer 7 gm after meal.
3. Habbe ayyarij 2 hab at bed time.