A novel new study indicates that those with the sleep disorders hypersomnia, narcolepsy, and obesity-related sleep problems (such as sleep apnea) bring about consequences far beyond trouble for the individuals who suffer from them. Hypersomnia causes excessive fatigue, requiring multiple naps throughout the day. Narcolepsy, which is related to hypersomnia, causes individuals to fall asleep abruptly and unexpectedly.
Individuals with the disorders use health services more frequently, take more medicine, and are more frequently unemployed. The more serious the sleep disorder the higher the socio-economic cost, say researchers at the University of Copenhagen and the Danish Institute for Health Services Research. Narcolepsy and hypersomnia are calculated to cost Danish society an annual figure of EURO 10,223 ($13,438) and EURO 2,190 ($2,878) respectively.
The Danish research was the first of its kind. Previous studies have looked only at the quality of life of the individual with the disorders.
Source: Medical News Today