It’s highly common to have that afternoon slump. That lazy, sleepy feeling after lunch when you feel like a nap would be great. Most of us feel tired sometimes. Our sleeping habits, workload, social calendars, and our overall lifestyle can make us feel this way. However, about 20 percent of people have an extreme case of the “sleepies.”
Many people who come into the Gingras Sleep Medicine office have similar complaints and concerns about feeling excessively drowsy and sluggish. Coffee, morning exercise and even longer sleep times during the night don’t seem to give them enough energy during the day. As one can imagine, this often interferes with their ability to perform well at work, school, and other activities. Sometimes even their family and friend relationships become affected. Most of these patients come in and believe they are suffering from “fatigue.” However, most of them are dealing with a much bigger beast known as Hypersomnia or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness.
What is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?
Excessive daytime sleepiness is more of a symptom of a disorder, than a disorder itself, and can be linked to many different and serious causes. If you feel excessively sleepy, you should meet with your physician or a sleep medicine physician to get to the root of the issue.
Many people with excessive daytime sleepiness do not realize that they could have a sleep disorder. They just know they’re tired. As we mentioned before, many patients mistake Excessive daytime sleepiness for regular fatigue. However, the characteristics of fatigue are low energy and the need to rest, though not necessarily sleep. Other times, patients think they’re depressed because they don’t have the energy or desire to do the things they once loved.
Some patients live with excessive sleepiness for a long time, and now it’s their “normal.” However, insufficient or low-quality sleep and the resulting excessive sleepiness can serious health and safety risks. Low amounts of sleep is linked to cardiovascular issues and weight gain. Excessive sleepiness can also put yourself and others at risk, including motor vehicle accidents, work-related accidents, and even home accidents.
What Are the Causes of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?
Sometimes, the cause of excessive daytime sleepiness is poor sleeping habits. Irregular sleep schedules, too much light in the room, too much screen time before bed – all of these are common habits that many people don’t realize affects their quality of sleep. This can be an easy fix, however other issues like a sleep disorder, certain medications, and other underlying medical conditions such as mental health disorders may need investigating.
How a Sleep Medicine Specialist Can Help You Not Feel So Tired
A sleep medicine specialist is a doctor that is trained in the diagnosis and therapy of sleep disturbances and disorders. If you’re suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, this specialist can help to target the root disorder and proceed as necessary. On top of the recommended treatment plan for your specific disorder, they may also give you some homework and regimens to improve your sleeping habits and reduce your hypersomnia.
Some of these may include:
- Sticking to a strict sleep/wake schedule
- Reducing or avoiding coffee/ alcohol in your diet
- Peaceful sleeping environment tips
- Avoiding medications that induce drowsiness
- Avoiding late work nights
See a Sleep Medicine Specialist for Effective Hypersomnia Treatment
If you frequently feel tired or drowsy, have difficulty being productive in your work, often have a cloudy judgment or inability to focus, or feel unable to fully participate in your life, skip the energy drinks and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeannine Gingras at Gingras Sleep Medicine. Dr. Gingras and her team have helped thousands of patients to get restful, restorative sleep, and enjoy their days more fully. To schedule your appointment, visit www.gingrassleepmedicine.com or call our office at (704) 944-0562. We look forward to helping you get a better night’s sleep.