Excessive Sleepiness (Hypersomnia) in Grand Rapids, MI

Feeling unusually tired all the time, even after a full night’s sleep, is a common concern for many people in Grand Rapids. Long winters, early sunsets, busy work schedules, and shift work at local hospitals and manufacturing plants can all contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness, also called hypersomnia.

This guide explains what hypersomnia is, common causes, symptoms to watch for, and when to seek help from a Grand Rapids sleep specialist.

What Is Hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia means excessive sleepiness. Under the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness is defined as:

“The inability to stay awake and alert during the major waking episodes of the day, resulting in unintended lapses into drowsiness or sleep.”

Someone with hypersomnia may:

  • Sleep 9–12 hours or more at night
  • Still feel the need to nap during the day
  • Wake up feeling unrefreshed and “foggy”
  • Struggle to stay awake at work, in class, or while driving

In Grand Rapids, this can be especially concerning during winter, when darker days and slippery roads already increase the risk of accidents.

Symptoms of Excessive Sleepiness

Hypersomnia looks a little different for everyone, depending on age, lifestyle, and underlying health conditions. Common symptoms include:

  • Feeling unusually tired all the time
  • Needing daytime naps to get through the day
  • Feeling drowsy despite long nights of sleep
  • Not feeling refreshed on waking up
  • “Foggy” thinking and slowed decision-making
  • Trouble concentrating or remembering things
  • Apathy or lack of motivation
  • Increased risk of accidents, especially motor vehicle crashes

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and notice you’re nodding off at red lights, during meetings, or in class, it’s important to talk with a healthcare provider.

Common Causes of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

There are many possible causes of hypersomnia. In West Michigan, lifestyle patterns, seasonal changes, and common medical conditions all play a role.

1. Insufficient or Poor-Quality Sleep

The most common cause of excessive sleepiness is simply not getting enough good-quality sleep.

This can be due to:

  • Long working hours or frequent overtime
  • Shift work (common in healthcare, manufacturing, and public safety in Grand Rapids)
  • Staying out late on weekends and not catching up during the week
  • Caring for a new baby or sick family member
  • Environmental factors:
    • Snoring partner
    • Noisy neighbors or street noise
    • Uncomfortable mattress
    • Bedroom that is too hot or too cold (especially in Michigan’s hot summers or very cold winters)

2. Teenagers and Young Adults

Teens and college students in Grand Rapids (including those at Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College, and Calvin University) are at particular risk of hypersomnia because of:

  • Naturally later sleep-wake cycles
  • Early school start times
  • Late-night studying, gaming, or social media
  • Part-time jobs with evening or night shifts

3. Shift Work and Irregular Schedules

Many people in Grand Rapids work rotating or overnight shifts in healthcare (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health), manufacturing, or service industries.

Shift work can:

  • Put you out of sync with your internal body clock (circadian rhythm)
  • Make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep
  • Lead to chronic sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness

4. Mental Health Conditions

Conditions like anxiety and depression can both disturb sleep and drain energy.

  • Depression often causes low energy, lack of motivation, and excessive sleeping or difficulty getting out of bed.
  • Anxiety can keep your mind racing at night, leading to poor-quality sleep and daytime fatigue.

Mental health concerns are common and treatable. Local resources include the Kent County Health Department, Network180, and multiple behavioral health providers in Grand Rapids.

5. Medications and Substances

Certain substances and medications can cause drowsiness, including:

  • Alcohol
  • Some prescription medications (for allergies, blood pressure, pain, mood, or seizures)
  • Some over-the-counter sleep aids
  • High caffeine intake (especially later in the day, which can disrupt nighttime sleep)

Always discuss medication side effects with your Grand Rapids primary care provider or pharmacist.

6. Medical Conditions

Several medical conditions can cause or worsen hypersomnia, such as:

  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) that wakes you at night
  • Nocturnal asthma or other lung conditions that disturb sleep
  • Chronic pain conditions
  • Neurologic disorders

These conditions are commonly managed by local specialists at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and other clinics in West Michigan.

7. Jet Lag and Time Zone Changes

Traveling across time zones (for example, flying from Grand Rapids to the West Coast or overseas) can disrupt your circadian rhythm and cause temporary excessive sleepiness.

8. Sleep Disorders

Several specific sleep disorders can directly cause excessive daytime sleepiness:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

  • The person’s breathing repeatedly stops or becomes very shallow during sleep—sometimes many times per hour.
  • The brain senses the drop in oxygen and sends a brief “wake-up” signal.
  • The person may snore, gasp, or snort, then drift back to sleep.
  • Sleep becomes fragmented, even if the person doesn’t fully wake up or remember it.

Sleep apnea is common in Michigan and is strongly linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It is a major cause of daytime sleepiness and driving accidents.

Insomnia

  • Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early.
  • Very common in adults, especially during times of stress.
  • Insomnia is a symptom, not a disease—it often reflects underlying stress, anxiety, depression, pain, or poor sleep habits.

Not everyone with insomnia has hypersomnia, but chronic insomnia can certainly lead to daytime fatigue.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

  • Uncomfortable sensations (cramps, tingling, irritation, or “creepy-crawly” feelings) under the skin of the legs, especially in the calves.
  • Strong urge to move the legs or get up and walk around.
  • Symptoms are usually worse in the evening and at night, making it hard to fall asleep.

Sleepwalking

  • A common abnormal behavior during sleep, especially in children.
  • The person may get out of bed and walk around the house while still asleep.
  • They usually do not remember the event.
  • Sleepwalking can disturb sleep and may increase the risk of injury.

Narcolepsy

A relatively rare but serious sleep disorder characterized by:

  • Severe daytime sleepiness with involuntary naps
  • Sleep paralysis (being unable to move when falling asleep or waking up)
  • Hypnagogic hallucinations (vivid, dream-like experiences just before falling asleep)
  • Cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions like laughter or surprise)

Narcolepsy requires evaluation by a sleep specialist and specific treatment.

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

  • Excessive night-time sleep and a strong need for daytime naps.
  • Unlike narcolepsy, it does not include cataplexy or sleep paralysis.
  • The exact cause is often unknown (“idiopathic”).

How Is Hypersomnia Diagnosed in Grand Rapids?

Identifying the cause of excessive sleepiness usually involves:

  • A detailed medical and sleep history
  • Review of medications, caffeine, and alcohol use
  • Screening for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions
  • Physical examination and possible blood tests (for thyroid, anemia, etc.)
  • Sleep questionnaires or sleep diaries

If a sleep disorder is suspected, your provider may refer you to a sleep disorders clinic in Grand Rapids for:

  • Overnight sleep study (polysomnography) – to look for sleep apnea, movement disorders, or abnormal sleep stages
  • Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) – to measure how quickly you fall asleep during the day and check for narcolepsy

Local options include sleep centers associated with:

  • Spectrum Health
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • University of Michigan Health-West (Metro Health)
  • Mercy Health and other accredited sleep clinics in West Michigan

Treatment: Managing Excessive Sleepiness

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Many people in Grand Rapids can improve or even resolve hypersomnia with a combination of medical care and lifestyle changes.

Treating Underlying Conditions

Your healthcare provider may:

  • Adjust medications that cause drowsiness
  • Treat thyroid problems, reflux, asthma, or other medical issues
  • Start therapy or medication for anxiety or depression
  • Treat specific sleep disorders such as:
    • Sleep apnea – with CPAP, oral appliances, weight management, or surgery
    • Restless legs syndrome – with iron supplementation (if low) or prescription medications
    • Narcolepsy – with stimulant or wake-promoting medications and scheduled naps
    • Insomnia – with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT‑I), relaxation techniques, or short-term medications

Lifestyle and “Sleep Hygiene” Strategies

Good sleep hygiene can significantly reduce excessive sleepiness. Helpful strategies include:

  • Keep a regular sleep schedule

    • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
    • This helps your body “know” when it’s time to sleep.

  • Create a sleep-friendly bedroom

    • Keep the room dark, quiet, and cool (especially important in Michigan’s hot, humid summers and dry, heated winters).
    • Use blackout curtains and white noise if needed.
    • Reserve your bed for sleep and intimacy—avoid watching TV or working in bed.

  • Limit caffeine and alcohol

    • Avoid caffeinated drinks (coffee, energy drinks, soda, strong tea) in the late afternoon and evening.
    • Avoid alcohol near bedtime; it may help you fall asleep but leads to fragmented, poor-quality sleep.

  • Follow a relaxing bedtime routine

    • Wind down with reading, gentle stretching, or a warm bath.
    • Avoid screens (phones, tablets, computers) for at least 30–60 minutes before bed, as blue light can interfere with your sleep-wake cycle.

  • Stay active during the day

    • Exercise regularly—many Grand Rapids residents enjoy walking along the Grand River, biking local trails, or using indoor gyms during winter.
    • Aim to finish vigorous exercise at least a few hours before bedtime.

  • Eat a balanced diet

    • Avoid heavy meals right before bed.
    • Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to support overall energy and health.

  • Avoid cigarettes and nicotine

    • Nicotine can disrupt sleep and worsen breathing problems at night.

Using Naps Wisely

  • Brief “power naps” (about 10–20 minutes) can be helpful if you must stay alert—for example, before a long drive on I‑96 or US‑131, or during night shifts.
  • Avoid long or late-afternoon naps if they make it harder to fall asleep at night.
  • Daytime napping is generally not recommended as a long-term solution if better nighttime sleep is possible.

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Contact your Grand Rapids primary care provider or a sleep specialist if:

  • You feel excessively sleepy most days, despite getting what seems like enough sleep
  • You fall asleep unintentionally at work, in class, or while driving
  • Your partner notices loud snoring, gasping, or pauses in breathing at night
  • You wake up unrefreshed, with morning headaches or dry mouth
  • You have unusual sleep behaviors (sleepwalking, acting out dreams, leg jerks)
  • You experience sleep paralysis, hallucinations at sleep onset, or sudden muscle weakness with strong emotions

Local Resources

  • Your GP / Primary Care Provider – first step for evaluation and referrals
  • Sleep Disorder Clinics in Grand Rapids – often affiliated with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health resources – information on community health programs, mental health, and lifestyle support
  • Behavioral health providers for anxiety, depression, and stress management

Key Points About Excessive Sleepiness

  • Sleeping longer or napping more does not always fix excessive sleepiness; sleep quality and underlying health issues matter.
  • Many factors—insufficient sleep, shift work, mental health conditions, medications, and sleep disorders—can cause or worsen hypersomnia.
  • Insomnia is a symptom, not a disease; it often reflects underlying stress, lifestyle issues, or medical conditions.
  • Sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, sleepwalking, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and chronic insomnia are treatable.
  • With proper evaluation and treatment from Grand Rapids healthcare providers, most people with excessive daytime sleepiness can significantly improve their energy, safety, and quality of life.

If you live in the Grand Rapids, MI area and struggle with excessive sleepiness, don’t ignore it—schedule an appointment with your doctor or a local sleep clinic to get the right diagnosis and treatment.