Although most of us feel sleepy from time to time, excessive daytime sleepiness is a more serious condition. It can affect alertness, concentration and memory and increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Excessive daytime sleepiness is usually a symptom of poor quality sleep or certain health conditions such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. Identifying the underlying cause is important and can be treated.
1. Stress
Stress saps energy, and can make you feel sleepy. Modalert 200 Finding ways to lower your stress levels can help you fight excessive daytime sleepiness. Exercise, meditation, reading and spending time with loved ones are all great ways to relieve stress.
Chronic medical conditions, such as depression, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, can cause sleepiness in some people. Also, some medications can lead to sleepiness, including narcotics and stimulants, as well as certain sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy or periodic limb movement disorder.
It is important to visit your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness. Often, it is a sign of an underlying condition. Your doctor will run tests and ask questions about your sleep habits, medication, physical health and psychiatric history to determine the cause.
2. Lack of Exercise
A lack of regular physical activity is associated with low levels of energy and poor sleep quality. This can result in excessive daytime sleepiness, which is also a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy and periodic limb movement disorder.
Fatigue and sleepiness may overlap, but the latter involves a feeling of extreme drowsiness that prevents people from staying awake at times when they should remain alert. It can lead to accidents such as drowsy driving, which is responsible for 100,000 deaths per year.
Getting enough sleep is essential for good health. Modafinil 200 Recognizing that you are not getting enough rest and working with a doctor to improve your sleeping habits is an important first step. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep can cause many health issues, from depression and other mental health disorders to psychiatric illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Medication
Excessive daytime sleepiness, also known as hypersomnia, can be a symptom of a health condition or a sleep disorder. Conditions such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder affect the natural sleep-wake cycles. They can cause micro-awakenings and fragmented sleep, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness.
A targeted medical history, physical examination and laboratory evaluation can help identify the underlying cause. In addition, a thorough medication history should be taken including the use of prescription and non-prescription medications and drugs of abuse.
Medications can help to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness. The most commonly used are benzodiazepines such as diazepam and alprazolam, as well as psychomotor stimulants such as dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. These drugs are FDA approved to treat narcolepsy and can help to reduce daytime sleepiness, but they may have side effects.
4. Shift Work
Shift work, which is a normal part of many jobs in the world, can cause excessive daytime sleepiness. Shift work can disrupt your circadian rhythm and confuse the natural chemicals that facilitate sleep at night and wakefulness during the day.
Some shift workers experience problems such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. These issues can have a negative impact on job performance, leading to absenteeism and accidents which can result in injuries, hospitalizations, and even fatalities.
To help alleviate these problems, schedule a regular sleep pattern and minimize time spent at work outside the normal daytime hours. Encourage family and friends to respect your sleeping schedule. Ask them to keep the home environment quiet and dark during your sleep hours, and avoid errands or household tasks that can be done during the daytime.
5. Diet
Feeling sleepy at times during the day is normal, but excessive sleepiness interferes with your work, relationships and other daily activities. It may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder such as narcolepsy or depression.