Recurrent hypersomnia is a type of hypersomnia that is characterized with several episodes of severe drowsiness. What makes recurrent hypersomnia different from hypersomnia is that in recurrent hypersomnia, episodes of attacks of symptoms of recurrent hypersomnia lasts for several days to weeks and each episode appears from several weeks to several months apart. People suffering from recurrent hypersomnia sleep for overly long periods that can last from 16 hours of sleep per day up to 18 hours. In between episode attacks, people suffering from hypersomnia have normal sleep and wake cycle, also normal behavior.
2 Forms of Recurrent Hypersomnia:
Kleine-Levin Syndrome
Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS), also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome is a type of neurological disorder characterized with several recurring episodes of excessive sleeping hours and eating. People with Kleine-Levin Syndrome sleep for overly long periods during the night and only get up to go to the bathroom and eat. Aside from these symptoms of Kleine-Levin Syndrome mentioned, here are other common symptoms manifested by people with Kleine-Levin Syndrome:
- Uncontrolled Binge Eating – Binge eating is considered to be an eating disorder if a person occasionally experience episodes of overeating. An episode of binge eating episode consists of an excessive consumption of food.
- Excessive Libido or Sexual Drive (hypersexuality)
- Crankiness or Irritability
- Aggression
- Feelings of Unreality
- Confusion and/or Hallucinations
Females are least likely to suffer from Kleine-Levin syndrome, when compared to males.
Menstrual-Related Hypersomnia
Symptoms or episode attacks of menstrual-related hypersomnia occur at the same time as a woman’s menstrual cycle. This kind of recurrent hypersomnia does not last for a long time. Once the menstrual cycle of a woman ends, an episode of menstrual-related hypersomnia also ends. Menstrual-related hypersomnia first appears after a woman’s first menstrual period and is believed to be an effect from a hormonal imbalance.
Who gets affected with Recurrent Hypersomnia?
Recurrent hypersomnia is not a very common sleep disorder and it sometimes referred to as a rare kind of sleep disorder. Well in fact, there were only about 200 reports of people getting recurrent hypersomnia. A person’s risk for the development of recurrent hypersomnia is much higher if a family member is suffering from a mood disorder. The first appearance of symptoms of recurrent hypersomnia can appear during the early teenage years, however, there were also reports that children aging 10 years old also manifest symptoms of recurrent hypersomnia.
