Sleep is one of the most important things that you can do to stay healthy, happy, and productive. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll feel tired and groggy during the day, which will make you less effective at work and more likely to make mistakes. If you’re feeling fatigued and have trouble concentrating, you might be suffering from a condition called “excessive daytime sleepiness.” This article provides a detailed explanation of what causes this condition, as well as the most common signs and symptoms.
Feeling excessively sleepy during the day? Discover the surprising excessive sleepiness causes and how to combat it with this informative guide.
What is Excessive Sleepiness?
Excessive sleepiness is a common symptom that can arise from a variety of causes, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, depression, and other illnesses. Excessive sleepiness can make you feel so tired that it interferes with school, work, and possibly even your relationships and day-to-day functioning.
A survey by the American Sleep Foundation found that more than 18 percent of people have experienced excessive sleepiness. It’s likely that the percentage may actually be much higher.
When you’re suffering from excessive sleepiness, it’s important to figure out why it’s happening. There are several sleep-related issues that need to be evaluated before a diagnosis. So, read on to get detailed info on excessive daytime sleepiness.
Excessive Sleepiness Causes
Excessive sleepiness is hard to define precisely because it’s very subjective, depending on who it affects and
We feel exhausted all day and cannot think straight.
There are several possible causes of excessive sleepiness. Each cause can be treated differently.
Sleep deprivation
Adult Americans need seven to eight hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well-rested the next day.
If you don’t get enough sleep during the night, your brain will be so tired that it will have trouble functioning properly the next
People who don’t get enough sleep may feel constantly tired and experience excessive sleep.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that causes difficulty with sleeping.
Insomnia sufferers may feel excessively sleepy, but they are unable to fall or stay asleep.
Insomnia is a tricky thing to diagnose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that it’s hard to tell if you have insomnia unless you can rule out other possible conditions like anxiety, depression, or a medical problem.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing while you’re sleeping. This condition is quite common.
Some people experience both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
When you have episodes of sleep apnea, you’ll usually experience them dozens or even hundreds of times.
As a result, the person may be unable to get to sleep at a proper time. Such disruptive sleep patterns cause excessive sleepiness.
Restless legs syndrome
An uncontrollable urge to move the legs when they are at rest is referred to as restless legs syndrome (RLS). The condition can also cause uncomfortable sensations in the legs. During sleep and wakefulness, it is possible to have RLS. It can be difficult to get to sleep for people who experience RLS when awake.
RLS (or restless leg syndrome) occurs when your legs jerk or spasm during sleep. While this is not enough to wake someone up, it can help prevent them from reaching the stages of deep, restful sleep. Because the person has low-quality protein, he or she will likely feel sluggish and tired the following day.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological condition that causes a person to fall asleep suddenly and at inappropriate times.
Narcoleptic people are always sleepy during the day and experience persistent sleepiness.
Most people with this condition will have one or more of the symptoms, but not all. Click here to know more about narcolepsy.
Common Symptoms of Excessive Sleepiness
Consolidating memory, restoring the immune system, and other vital processes can be achieved through sleep. A lack of quality sleep will result in a host of symptoms that you may not immediately connect to sleep.
Whether you’ve been sleeping too much or too little, you may be suffering from excessive sleepiness if you experience any of the following:
- Difficulty retaining new concepts
- Difficulty making decisions
- Trouble staying alert
- Feelings of irritation
- Risk-taking behaviors
- Memory problems
- Trouble focusing
- Slower reaction times
What are the effects of excessive sleepiness?
Falling asleep can have wide-ranging effects on your health and your daily life. This causes daytime sleepiness. If you have it, these are the consequences:
- Worse quality of life
- Increased risk of car and work accidents
- Problems regulating mood and emotions
- Decreased work productivity or academic performance
- Social and relationship problems
Sleepiness can be particularly dangerous for young adults, night shift workers, medical staff, and those who drive a lot.
There is a link between long-term sleep deprivation and a higher chance of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes. In older adults, daytime sleepiness may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment, memory loss, and earlier mortality, while in children it may affect development.
How to Treat Excessive Sleepiness?
You should see a doctor if you’re suffering from excessive sleepiness. The doctor will give you a diagnosis of the underlying condition and treat it.
There are many alternatives that do not come with a high risk of addiction, and people who are prescribed sleep medications should try to stick to the guidelines they have been given.
However, there are many general lifestyle changes that people can make to help them get
The best include:
- keeping a consistent sleep schedule
- taking a warm bath before bedtime
- eating a healthful, balanced diet (know more about how diet affects your sleep)
- exercising regularly
- limiting caffeine and alcohol intake
- creating a relaxing sleep environment
FAQ
Excessive sleepiness can be caused by a variety of things, including stress, depression, anxiety, and lack of exercise. It can also be caused by a medical condition such as narcolepsy, which is a neurological disorder that causes people to fall asleep unexpectedly.
Excessive sleepiness is usually obvious, but you can also check your sleep patterns. If you wake up in the middle of the night and feel tired and groggy, you may have excessive sleepiness.
If you’re having a hard time falling asleep at night, try getting some exercise. If you’re feeling stressed, take a break from work or school. If you’re feeling depressed, talk to a friend or family member. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try taking a hot bath or going to bed early.
There are many benefits of ASMR. Some people experience ASMR when they’re tired or stressed out. They may feel relaxed and enjoy the sensation of being touched. Others use ASMR to help them relax and sleep better at night.
The most common symptom of excessive sleepiness is feeling tired all the time. Other symptoms include:
- Difficulty focusing on tasks
- Memory problems
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Lack of energy
- Problems with concentration
- Impulsivity
- Slow reflexes
- Poor judgment.
Conclusion
The only way to determine if your symptoms are related to a sleep disorder is to see your doctor. You may want to ask for a referral to a sleep specialist, who can conduct a thorough sleep study and evaluate your sleep habits. If you’re suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, there are many things you can do to improve your sleep quality. These include going to bed at the right time and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bedtime.
If you want to know more about different sleep-related disorders check out here.
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