What is excessive daytime sleepiness?
Experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness can be a major health issue, especially if it occurs every day. Several possible causes and treatments exist for this problem, and it is important to seek medical advice if you have any questions.
Experiencing too much sleep during the day can lead to a number of issues, including impaired concentration and alertness. It can also affect your health overall, and can lead to an increased risk of accidents. Nearly half of adults suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. Its impact on daily life is measurable—reducing productivity, mood, and overall wellbeing are all impacted. Daytime sleepiness is a sleep disorder which needs proper attention.
The dangers of excessive daytime sleepiness
Primary causes of excessive daytime sleepiness include sleep deprivation and narcolepsy. Secondary causes include a head injury, stroke, tumors, inflammatory conditions, and genetic and neurodegenerative diseases. Secondary causes of excessive daytime sleepiness include periodic limb movement disorder and restless legs syndrome. The causes of excessive daytime sleepiness vary among people, and the best treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the condition.
Who is at risk for excessive daytime sleepiness?
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is also associated with social and health consequences. Its prevalence ranges from nine to 28 percent, depending on comorbidities, ethnicity, and gender. The underlying causes of excessive daytime sleepiness are complex and can include a variety of factors. Some of these include inadequate sleep hygiene, medications, illicit drug use, or neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition, women are more prone to excessive daytime sleepiness than men are. The severity of these symptoms will depend on the cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. However, the underlying health condition may be the root of the problem.
How can you prevent excessive daytime sleepiness?
There are some ways to prevent excessive daytime sleepiness. The first is to maintain a quiet and comfortable bedroom. Make sure your room is as dark as possible and your mattress is firm. If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, you may have a sleeping disorder called narcolepsy. If you have this condition, you may also experience sleepiness when driving or while swimming.
The symptoms of this disorder are similar to the symptoms of insomnia and may be difficult to detect. You can try panel beds for extra sleep and comfort if you dont find other bed types comfortable.
If you work from home, shut the door, lay your head on the desk, or take a power nap in your car. While a quick nap may be helpful, make sure to set an alarm if you notice you’re starting to feel sleepy. A 15 or 30-minute nap can provide you with the energy you need to get through the day.
Conclusion
The dangers of excessive daytime sleepiness can be difficult to recognize. The condition can also be mistaken for other medical conditions. In addition to being difficult to recognize, excessive daytime sleepiness can be confused with depression. Both conditions reduce your desire to engage in normal activities. For this reason, it’s important to identify the cause of your excessive daytime sleepiness and take action to remedy it.