Are you having a major difficulty in staying awake during the daytime while working or performing some other activities?
We understand that excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) seems to be the common symptom of several sleep disorders and that may include apnea, insomnia, and even circadian disorders.
Not getting adequate or restorative sleep at night, often by choice, could be the most common factor leading to excessive daytime sleepiness. People are compelled to work at night and sleep during the day.
Some other causes of EDS include alcohol, drug, cigarette use, obesity, lack of regular physical activity, and even the use of specific medications.
Excessive daytime sleepiness could be triggered by certain underlying or inherent conditions. Such as depression, sleep apnea, narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome. Let us try to learn more about Excessive Daytime Sleep: causes, consequences, and cures.
Causes of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea could be culminating in daytime sleepiness in adults and children alike. When we are in deep sleep. The upper airway is collapse for a minimum of 10 seconds. This would happen hundreds of times every night.
Blockage in the airway is the Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Central Sleep Apnea happens when the brain is unable to transmit signals to those muscles that are in charge of controlling your normal breathing.
You may snore and gasp for air once the airway is clear and reopens. You fail to experience sound and restorative sleep at night causing sleepiness during the daytime. If your breathing seems to be interrupted.
Consequences:
This could have major repercussions as you may fall asleep in the middle of traffic or while at work. Sleep apnea patients are involved in more auto accidents as compared to people who do not suffer from this condition.
As per https://www.forbes.com, sleep apnea if left untreated, could culminate in heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, depression, and more.
Recently the IRP or Intramural Research Program investigators have claimed that experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or drowsiness could indicate increased risks of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease, the much-dreaded brain pathology.
Treatment:
The most effective sleep apnea treatments include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and stimulants or medications like modafinil (Provigil) and Armodafinil (Nuvigil) that could help in relieving sleepiness in sleep apnea patients.
Often doctors prescribe Solriamfetol medication for boosting wakefulness in individuals experiencing excessive sleepiness during the daytime. Weight loss could be instrumental in treating sleep apnea and surgery could be your last resort.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a serious neurological disorder.It impacts your ability to sleep and wake, patients would be experiencing uncontrollable and excessive daytime sleepiness.
People afflicted with narcolepsy may simply fall off to sleep during any kind of activity and at any time. May be associated with sleep paralysis, pre-sleep dreams or hypnagogic hallucinations, and a sudden muscle tone loss.
Consequences:
The underlying cause of narcolepsy seems to be unknown. It is not regarded as inherently a fatal disorder.It could lead to fatalities. For instance, a narcoleptic could meet with a fatal accident if he falls asleep in the middle of traffic while driving.
Treatment:
To help patients stay awake, use simulators such as modafinil, methylphenidate, and armodafinil, etc. Antidepressants like serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclics for treating sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and cataplexy.
Conclusion
You
could avoid excessive daytime sleepiness by implementing strategies like
maintaining a truly consistent sleep schedule and using the bedroom only during
bedtime for sex and sleep only.
Pinstripe Magazine Staff
Online Men’s Lifestyle Magazine on Gear, Grooming, Girls, Gadgets
