What is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?

1. What is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?

2. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness • Millions of people across the United States do not sleep well even if they have spent hours in bed. Poor sleep can make you feel like you did not rest enough. It can make you tired enough to fall asleep during the day, even when it is not appropriate. • Characterized by persistent sleepiness that comes on suddenly and often, coupled with a general lack of energy, EDS is often the result of several sleep disorders or other conditions. Identifying the potential causes of daytime sleepiness is the first step to understanding the proper treatment.

3. Symptoms Of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness • Sleep paralysis, or a state between wakefulness and sleep when the body becomes immobile. • Cataplexy, where muscle tone disappears and voluntary muscles become paralyzed. • Hypnagogic hallucination, or a state between wakefulness and sleep when dreams seem lucid and real. • Automatic behaviors, or a state between wakefulness and sleep when someone displays uninhibited behavior, with no memory of them when they are awake.

4. Common Causes Of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness • Insomnia • Mental Disorders • Sleep Deprivation  • Drug-Related Sleep Disorders • Medical Conditions

5. Insomnia • Insomnia plagues over 70 million people in the U.S. It is categorized by difficulty falling asleep, waking up for periods of time at night, waking up too early, or feeling un-refreshed after sleep. In addition to other conditions, it can be caused by behavior such as watching a scary movie before bedtime, going to bed at an unusual time, or consuming caffeine or stimulant drugs too close to bedtime. The result can be daytime sleeping problems.

6. Mental Disorders • Mental disorders are often accompanied by insomnia and EDS. Those with bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder may experience interrupted sleep along with daytime fatigue. It is estimated that 80% of patients who suffer from depression also have insomnia, while 40% of chronic insomniacs suffer from a major mental disorder.

7. Sleep Deprivation • Sleep deprivation due to work or social obligations can lead to problems that involve unnaturally adjusting your circadian rhythms. This is often the case with shift work disorder (SWD) or jet lag.

8. Drug-Related Sleep Disorders • Drug-related sleep disorders can result from drug abuse or over-use of specific prescription and OTC medication.

9. Medical Conditions • Medical conditions such as head trauma, anemia, kidney failure, tumors, hypothyroidism or injuries to the central nervous system may result in insomnia.

10. Other Sleeping Disorders • Other sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, idiopathic hybrid insomnia, or restless leg syndrome contribute to improper sleeping during the night and can lead to inadvertent sleepiness during the day.

11. Why Seek Treatment For Excessive Daytime Sleepiness • You should seek treatment from a sleep disorder specialist because.. • Falling asleep while driving can put yourself and others at serious risk. • while falling asleep during a staff meeting can cause you professional difficulties.

12. Treatment for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness The treatment of EDS falls into three categories: behavior modification, over-the-counter drugs, and prescription drugs. • Changing your bedtime, maintaining a consistent bedtime, or avoiding caffeine after lunchtime can often manage mild cases of insomnia and EDS. Behavioral approaches are effective for most sleep problems. • OTC solutions that contain antihistamines, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, melatonin, or other herbal remedies and dietary supplements can offer a temporary solution to the problem. OTC remedies are a viable alternative to stronger, prescription sleep aids; however, many of the more natural remedies may have unknown side effects. • Prescription solutions include a host of sedatives, mild tranquilizers, and anxiety drugs that are safe, but require doctor supervision. These medications are addictive and can have serious side effects, especially when taken with alcohol or other drugs.

13. Schedule An Appointment Today If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, please contact us online or by calling 708-364-0261 to set up an appointment with one of our board-certified sleep specialists.