The diagnosis and treatment of daytime sleepiness has not lost its relevance despite numerous studies devoted to this issue. Aside from the negative influence on a person’s quality of life, success, and productivity, it may also signal diabetes, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, and other medical conditions.
What is Daytime Sleepiness?
Daytime sleepiness (commonly referred to as hypersomnia) is a health condition in which a patient feels a need or desire to sleep during the daytime. It is often accompanied by a strong feeling of fatigue and weakness. Hypersomnia affects people regardless of age and social status. Many people think that this is the norm. But daytime sleepiness has some causes and consequences that everyone should be aware of.
Occasional vs. Chronic
Somnolence can be occasional or chronic. Occasional sleepiness usually occurs infrequently (for example, once a month) and causes less concern than chronic sleepiness, which occurs daily for over three months. The accompanying symptoms that may indicate the development of the disease include memory and concentration impairment, snoring, sleep apnea, depression, stress, and chronic pain syndrome.
Causes of Daytime Sleepiness
Both occasional and chronic hypersomnia can be caused by insufficient sleep at night, sleep disorders, poor sleep quality, the consumption of a large number of fast carbohydrates (potatoes, sweets, rice, etc.), changes in weather conditions, insufficient physical activity, health issues, and other factors. Read more about this in the following paragraphs.
Lack of Sufficient Sleep
Sleep deprivation at night is the most common cause of sleepiness during the day. Many people need 6-8 hours of sleep. But there are also long-sleeping individuals. They need at least 9-12 hours of nighttime rest. This is usually determined genetically. The final figure is formed by age 20 and remains almost unchanged throughout life.
However, the same person can sleep longer or less than usual at different stages of life. Positive events, motivation, and moderate exercise shorten the duration of sleep, while heavy physical and mental activity makes a person sleep longer. In addition, the need for sleep is greater during the cold season.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders are the second most typical reason for excessive daytime sleepiness. They are divided into three main types:
- Presomnic;
- Intrasomnic;
- Postsomnic.
Presomnic disorders include difficulty falling asleep, accompanied by anxiety, low mood, and thoughts about personal problems, health, and even death. Intrasomnic disorders include nocturnal awakenings and a feeling of insufficient sleep. Postsomnic conditions include early awakening accompanied by asthenia, low mood, and emotional instability.
Medical Conditions
Several medical conditions can affect the sleep-wake cycle and lead to the development of hypersomnia:
- Brain damage caused by a tumor, stroke, traumatic brain injury, radiation, or surgery;
- Dysfunction of the central nervous system;
- Hormonal changes;
- OSA syndrome;
- Depression or increased anxiety;
- Alcohol or drug addiction, etc.
Medical conditions are the most noteworthy daytime sleepiness causes. If you suspect any disease, you should contact a physician and undergo appropriate treatment.
Poor Sleep Quality
The reason for daytime drowsiness may be the poor quality of nighttime rest, which is associated with changes in the duration of sleep phases. Motor, vegetative, and behavioral phenomena are usually observed in this case:
- Intermittent and restless sleep;
- Frequent awakenings and difficulty getting back to sleep;
- Nightmares, phobias, and panic attacks;
- Arrhythmia and pressure drop;
- Respiratory failure and apnea syndrome;
- Frequent urination at night;
- Convulsions of the limbs;
- Sleepwalking.
Try to pay due attention to this reason if you really want to successfully treat daytime sleepiness. This may be the source of your problem.
Consequences of Daytime Sleepiness
Those who believe that being sleepy during the daytime will go unnoticed are profoundly mistaken. The consequences of hypersomnia vary and include risks to mental and physical health conditions, deterioration in productivity and daily work, and changes in social and interpersonal relationships.
Physical Health Risks
According to research, excessive somnolence is a risk factor for hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other severe physical health diseases.
Mental Health Implications
People who often sleep during the day and do not want to wake up even from the sound of an alarm clock may experience fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, headaches, impaired attention, concentration, and memorization of information.
Productivity and Daily Functioning
The impact of hypersomnia on human productivity is probably the most obvious. It reduces motivation and initiative, harms performance, knowledge acquisition, and career development, as well as increases the likelihood of accidents at work, absenteeism, and counterproductive behavior.
Social and Interpersonal Relations
Idiopathic daytime sleepiness can destroy social and interpersonal relationships because a person with the clinical symptom of excessive drowsiness tends to withdraw from other people and spend time alone.
Diagnosis of Daytime Sleepiness
If you want to get rid of hypersomnia, the first thing to do is visit a doctor at a medical center and tell them about the problem. Let your healthcare provider know you want to stay awake during the day but feel like sleeping all the time. Be sure to mention how your daily sleep habits affect your life.
Modern medicine involves various diagnostic procedures to identify the cause of the patient’s ailment. A physical examination and revision of the medical history are carried out first. Then it is advisable to take a blood test, which helps identify changes in hormone levels and organ function. Reviewing your previously prescribed medications will allow your doctor to determine if sleepiness is a side effect of one of them.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), polysomnography, and Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) are also widely used to diagnose daytime sleepiness in adults. Brief descriptions of these tests are provided below.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)
The Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale is a series of questions that detect various sleep disorders. This commonly used test was created in 1990 by Dr. Murray Johns from Melbourne (Australia) to define daytime sleepiness ADHD in different lifestyle situations. The questionnaire is highly sensitive for determining sleep disorders like sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy.
Polysomnography and Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
Polysomnography is a modern instrumental method for diagnosing sleep dysfunction. It involves long-term monitoring of various functions of the human body during sleep. The MSLT test detects the sleep onset, its duration, as well as the presence of different stages and phases. Both methods can reveal the causes of hypersomnia, insomnia, narcolepsy, parasomnia, etc.
Daytime Sleepiness Treatment
The duration and complexity of excessive daytime sleepiness treatment depend on its cause and may include preventive measures and the use of certain medications.
Lifestyle Modifications
Hypersomnia treatment involves some lifestyle changes. Firstly, it is the observance of the sleep regimen at night. Secondly, the avoidance of physical and emotional overload. Thirdly, engaging in regular physical activity. These simple rules, in most cases, help to effectively get rid of the problem.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a modern scientific method of psychotherapy that provides quick help in a crisis situation. It is considered very effective in the treatment of hypersomnia as provides patients and their families with valuable skills to improve sleep hygiene and reduce daytime somnolence.
Sleep Aids and Medications
Sleep aids and medications (for example, Provigil) are also common in the therapy of excessive sleepiness. However, it is highly recommended to take medicines only as prescribed by the doctor, observing the dosage and schedule of administration.
Summary
The analysis carried out indicates a widespread prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness. It is not only a national but also a global problem. The underlying reasons can vary, ranging from lack of nighttime sleep to serious diseases such as diabetes. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment are required.
FAQ
What causes sleepiness during the day?
Sleepiness during the day is a primary sign of insufficient sleep, poor sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and medical conditions. If it is chronic and accompanied by a feeling of fatigue, headache, decreased memory, and attention, then a doctor’s consultation is mandatory.
How do I stop feeling sleepy during the day?
You can stop feeling sleepy during the day by taking daytime sleepiness medication, making some lifestyle modifications, or getting cognitive behavioral therapy.
Why do I keep nodding off during the day?
The reasons may be very different. Excessive daytime sleepiness can be the result of insomnia. It can be caused by an anxiety disorder or depression. In addition, many medications can cause somnolence as a side effect.
Why am I so sleepy in the daytime?
You may feel sleepy in the daytime if you have had poor sleep quality or insomnia at night. Maybe, you have been taking some medications that have caused such a reaction in the body. There is also a risk of developing some disease, especially if the symptom is persistent.