Excessive sleepiness. Excessive daytime sleepiness affects between 10% and 20% of the American population, and research shows that it is on the rise. The Sleep in America 2020 poll found that Americans report feeling sleepy an average of three days a week and have significant effects on mood and physical health as a result.
Although not a disorder in itself, excessive daytime sleepiness is something to take seriously. Your body may be trying to tell you that you are not sleeping enough or it may raise red flags for a sleep disorder or other health condition. It's important to recognize the signs of excessive daytime sleepiness so you can identify and treat the cause.
What is excessive daytime sleepiness?
Excessive daytime sleepiness is defined as difficulty staying awake or alert, or an increased desire to sleep during the day.
Feelings of sleepiness may be stronger when you are sedentary3, such as when driving or sitting at work. Although it's normal to feel sleepy every now and then after a short nap, it's considered excessive daytime sleepiness when it happens almost every day for at least three months.
Excessive sleepiness
It's easy to confuse sleepiness with fatigue5, as both conditions are characterized by a lack of energy and can occur under similar conditions, such as being awake for a long time. The main difference is that people with fatigue may not be able to fall asleep despite feeling tired and sluggish. You are also likely to experience fatigue and sleepiness at the same time.
Symptoms and consequences of excessive daytime sleepiness
Sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation, immune system restoration and other vital processes. As a result, a lack of quality sleep can lead to a number of symptoms that you might not immediately associate with sleep.
Even if you don't consciously feel sleepy, you may be suffering from excessive sleepiness if you experience any of the following:
- Trouble staying awake
- Feelings of irritation
- Memory problems
- Focus problem
- Difficulty retaining new concepts
- Difficulty making decisions
- Slower reaction times
- Risk taking behaviours
The sleepiness can have wide-ranging effects on health and daily life. Consequences of daytime sleepiness include:
- Increased risk of car and work accidents
- Reduced work productivity or academic performance
- Worse quality of life
- Problems regulating mood and emotions
- Social and relationship problems
Excessive sleepiness can be especially dangerous for young adults, shift workers, medical personnel and people who drive a lot.
Long-term sleep deprivation has been linked to a greater likelihood of diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other chronic conditions. Daytime sleepiness in children can affect development7, while in older adults, daytime sleepiness increases the risk of falls8 and may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment9, memory loss and early mortality.
What causes excessive sleepiness?
There are many possible causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. One of the most common reasons is a chronic lack of sleep10, whether due to long working hours, an irregular schedule, insomnia11 or other reasons.
Excessive sleepiness can also be caused by fragmented or otherwise poor quality sleep. Getting up several times a night to use the bathroom, for example, disrupts the natural progression of sleep stages and can reduce the amount of restorative slow-wave sleep. Smoking, not exercising enough and other lifestyle habits13 can also affect sleep quality and cause daytime sleepiness.
Many people who experience excessive daytime sleepiness do not seem to have problems sleeping enough. In these cases, sleepiness may be a sign of an underlying health condition or sleep disorder.
You need to talk to your doctor
You should see a doctor if you feel constantly tired, if excessive daytime sleepiness is affecting your daily life, or if you think it may be a sign of an underlying disorder.
Your doctor will perform tests and ask questions about your sleep habits to try to pinpoint the cause of your sleepiness.
They may also ask your bed partner if you pant, snore or move your legs during the night. If they suspect a sleep disorder, they may refer you to a sleep specialist to run more tests.
Treatment methods for daytime sleepiness depend on the cause. The doctor will likely start by suggesting sleep hygiene tips and encouraging you to get more sleep.
They may adjust the medications you take and will also work with you to develop a treatment plan for the underlying disorders, which need to be treated on their own.
No Comments