When we talk about sleep disorders, two terms often come up and might be confused with each other but have very distinct meanings: sleep apnea and hypersomnia. While both conditions impact the quality of sleep, they’re not quite the same thing. However, there’s a surprising link between them, and understanding how these two sleep disorders are related can provide better insights into the complex world of sleep health.

If you or someone you know struggles with constant fatigue or poor sleep, you may have heard of these terms or even experienced them firsthand. Let’s dive into how sleep apnea and hypersomnia are connected, learn about hypersomnia as the opposite of insomnia, and what you can do to manage both conditions.

What is Sleep Apnea?

The sleep disorder called sleep apnea is typified by short breathing pauses while you're asleep. These episodes of apnea may last for a few seconds to minutes and often occur multiple times throughout the night. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the muscles in the throat relax too much during sleep, temporarily blocking the airways. Another type of sleep apnea, known as central sleep apnea, occurs when the brain fails to communicate with the breathing muscles adequately. There’s also a combination of the two, known as complex sleep apnea.

The hallmark signs of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Choking or gasping for air during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
• Irritability or mood swings

Sleep apnea is often diagnosed through a sleep study (polysomnography) which monitors your brain waves, breathing, heart rate, and oxygen levels while you sleep. Treatment for sleep apnea may involve lifestyle changes, using a CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure), or, in severe cases, surgery.

What is Hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia refers to excessive sleepiness during the day, regardless of how much sleep you get at night. Unlike the occasional grogginess that happens to most people after a poor night’s sleep, hypersomnia is chronic and can interfere with daily functioning. It’s not just about feeling tired; it’s about feeling overwhelmingly drowsy to the point where staying awake becomes a struggle.

There are two main types of hypersomnia:

• Primary hypersomnia: This is when excessive sleepiness occurs without any underlying medical condition. The most common cause is narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that disrupts sleep-wake regulation.
• Secondary hypersomnia: This type is caused by other conditions, such as sleep apnea, depression, or other medical issues that affect sleep quality.

The symptoms of hypersomnia can include:

• Persistent daytime drowsiness despite sleeping for long hours at night
• Difficulty waking up from naps or sleep
• Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
• Feeling mentally foggy throughout the day
• Frequent napping or the inability to stay awake during daily activities

Hypersomnia, like sleep apnea, can be diagnosed through sleep studies or by ruling out other conditions. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, but it often involves lifestyle changes, medications, or therapy aimed at improving sleep quality and regulation.

So, How Are Sleep Apnea and Hypersomnia Related?

At first glance, sleep apnea and hypersomnia seem like separate conditions. Sleep apnea disrupts the sleep cycle by causing breathing interruptions, while hypersomnia is all about feeling excessively sleepy during the day. But here's the catch: sleep apnea is a major cause of secondary hypersomnia.

Disrupted Sleep = Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

When sleep apnea occurs, the person’s sleep cycle is interrupted multiple times during the night. Even though they may technically get a full night's sleep in terms of hours, the constant interruptions prevent them from reaching the deeper, restorative stages of sleep, such as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. These are the stages where the body and brain undergo the most healing and rejuvenation.

As a result, someone with sleep apnea may experience:

• Fragmented sleep: They may wake up briefly dozens of times throughout the night, which prevents them from getting the deep, restorative sleep their body needs.
• Oxygen deprivation: When breathing stops, oxygen levels in the blood drop, which can cause further disruption in the sleep cycle and increase feelings of fatigue during the day.

Even if someone with sleep apnea gets 7-9 hours of sleep a night, their quality of sleep is poor. This lack of restorative sleep often leads to the development of hypersomnia—they feel excessively sleepy during the day because their body is not getting the deep, rejuvenating rest it needs.

The Vicious Cycle: Sleep Apnea and Hypersomnia Feed into Each Other

When sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness, the cycle can get worse. People who are excessively tired during the day may try to compensate by sleeping longer at night, but because their sleep is still interrupted, they wake up feeling just as exhausted. The lack of quality sleep leads to poor concentration, irritability, and even more daytime fatigue.

In some cases, people may even oversleep to try to make up for the lost rest. However, this does not help, and they end up in a state of constant drowsiness, both because of sleep apnea and the additional sleep-wake cycle disruptions that can result from hypersomnia.

Co-occurrence of Sleep Apnea and Hypersomnia

Sleep apnea and hypersomnia often go hand-in-hand, and treating one can help alleviate the other. According to studies, people with sleep apnea are significantly more likely to experience hypersomnia than those without the disorder. This means that treating sleep apnea may not only improve breathing and reduce snoring but also help with daytime sleepiness.

For instance, CPAP therapy, the most common treatment for sleep apnea, works by keeping the airways open during sleep, preventing interruptions in breathing. Once a person starts using a CPAP machine, their sleep quality improves, and they begin to spend more time in the deeper stages of sleep. As a result, they may experience less daytime sleepiness, which helps resolve the hypersomnia symptoms.

What to Do if You Have Both Conditions

If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea and hypersomnia, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider who specializes in sleep medicine. A thorough evaluation, including a sleep study, can help determine whether sleep apnea is the underlying cause of your daytime sleepiness. In some cases, a combination of treatments may be required to address both conditions.

• CPAP Therapy: For people with sleep apnea, a CPAP machine may be the key to improving both nighttime breathing and daytime energy levels.
• Lifestyle Changes: Sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed, and creating a sleep-friendly environment, can improve both sleep apnea and hypersomnia symptoms.
• Medications: For people with hypersomnia, especially if it's secondary to sleep apnea, stimulant medications like modafinil or other prescribed treatments may help manage daytime drowsiness.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): If you struggle with sleep, CBT-I is a highly effective therapy for improving sleep quality and reducing symptoms of both sleep apnea and hypersomnia.

Read Also: Sleep Hygiene Tips for People with Hypersomnia

Final Thoughts

Sleep apnea and hypersomnia are often interconnected, with the former being a major contributor to the latter. When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to chronic daytime sleepiness, which severely impacts your quality of life. However, with proper treatment and lifestyle changes, both conditions can be managed, helping you get the restful, rejuvenating sleep you deserve and improving your daytime energy and focus.

If you think you might have sleep apnea or hypersomnia, consult a sleep apnea expert for an evaluation. Better sleep is within reach, and it could make all the difference in how you feel every day.