Drowsiness and fatigue can be due to many factors, including weather changes, depression, sleep disorders, medication side effects, and fundamental medical conditions such as thyroid disease and cancer.
The key to overcoming excessive sleepiness is identifying its cause. A healthcare professional can help you discover other symptoms, likely causes, and steps you can take to improve your energy and alertness.
What is excessive sleepiness?
Excessive sleepiness can mean different things to different people. Typically, it manifests as sleeping more than usual and feeling drowsy most of the day. You may feel tired or sleepy, or have tired eyes and need to close them frequently. You may take naps more often and still feel sleepy upon waking.
Unlike fatigue, which is more associated with a lack of energy, excessive sleepiness can interfere with your studies, work, and even your relationships and daily life. You may feel distracted and confused throughout the day, often immediately after waking up.
What causes excessive sleepiness?
Any condition that interferes with optimal sleep quality and duration can cause excessive sleepiness. Daylight sleepiness may not be the only symptom. Other symptoms may include snoring, restlessness, or jerky leg movements during sleep. You may not be aware of some of these symptoms. Many people with sleep disorders do notice them.
Some reasons of excessive sleepiness may not be related to disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle, but can still cause daytime drowsiness—for example, thyroid disease or cancer.
Here are some shared causes of extreme sleepiness:
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a possibly serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly halts and starts during the night. This can lead to daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms of sleep apnea may include:
- Loud snoring and gasping during sleep
- Sore throat and headache upon waking
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
Sleep apnea can increase the risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
Sleep apnea can cause excessive sleepiness by preventing sufficient deep sleep. Types of sleep apnea:
Disruptive sleep apnea (OSA): This occurs when the matters in the back of the throat relax during sleep and partially block the airway.
Central sleep apnea (CSA): This occurs when the brain doesn’t send the correct nerve signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes an uncontrollable and unpleasant urge to move one or both legs.
You might be lying down quietly and suddenly feel a throbbing or tingling sensation in your legs that only goes away when you get up and walk around. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) can make it problematic to reduction asleep and stay asleep, leading to excessive sleepiness the next day.
In some cases, the cause of RLS is unknown, although it may affect up to 10% of adults in the United States. Genetics and low iron levels may be involved. Problems with the basal ganglia in the brain, the area responsible for movement, may also cause RLS.
Narcolepsy
Like RLS, narcolepsy is a neurological disorder. In narcolepsy, the brain doesn’t properly regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
While at rest, a person with narcolepsy may wake up several times (similar to insomnia). They may also experience episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness during periods of activity. People with narcolepsy may fall asleep in the mid of conversations or while eating. Narcolepsy is a relatively uncommon condition, likely affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. It is often misdiagnosed as a mental disorder. Narcolepsy can develop between the ages of 7 and 25 years old.
Depression
A noticeable change in sleep patterns is a common symptom of depression. You may sleep much more or much less than before.
Other symptoms of depression include low incentive, irritability, vagaries in appetite, feelings of hopelessness, and loss of interest in your favourite activities.
If you don’t sleep well at night, you’re likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Occasionally, sleep changes are an early sign of depression. Other times, sleep changes occur after other signs of depression have appeared.
Depression has many potential causes, including abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals, problems with areas of the brain that regulate mood, and traumatic events.
Medication Side Effects
Some medications cause excessive sleepiness and fatigue as a side effect. The list may include medicines for:
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Nasal congestion (antihistamines)
- Nausea and vomiting (antiemetics)
- Psychosis
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety
If you think your medications may be causing your sleepiness, talk to your doctor. It’s important not to stop taking any medicines without your doctor’s supervision. They may suggest gradually reducing the dose or switching to a different dosage or brand of medication.
Aging
Older adults may devote more time to bed, but their sleep quality is often worse.
Ageing can be accompanied by changes in biological cycles, leading to reduced deep sleep time and more frequent nighttime awakenings.
Chronic mental and physical illnesses can also make it difficult to sleep at night and lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
Idiopathic Hypersomnia
If your doctor can’t determine a clear cause for your excessive sleepiness, they might diagnose you with idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). Idiopathic hypersomnia means there is no apparent cause for your symptoms.
IH is a chronic sleep disorder characterised by persistent excessive sleepiness despite getting enough sleep or even sleeping for an extended period. You may also have difficulty waking up.
How is excessive sleepiness treated? Treatment options for excessive sleepiness vary considerably depending on the cause.
Sleep Apnea
A continuous optimistic airway pressure (CPAP) machine uses a small bedside device that delivers air through a flexible tube to a mask worn over the nose and mouth.
Newer CPAP machines come with smaller, more comfortable masks. Some people find them too noisy or uncomfortable, but they remain the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
Restless Legs Syndrome
The symptoms of restless legs condition can often be managed with lifestyle changes. A leg reflexology or a warm bath before bed can help. Exercising earlier in the day can also reduce restless legs syndrome symptoms and improve sleep patterns.
Your doctor may indorse iron supplements if your iron levels are low. They may also prescribe medication to relieve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. If so, discuss potential side effects with your doctor.
Narcolepsy
The symptoms of narcolepsy can be achieved with lifestyle changes. Short, scheduled naps during the day can help. Maintaining a regular sleep and wake schedule each night and morning is also recommended.
Other tips to reduce excessive sleepiness in narcolepsy include:
Regular exercise
- Evading caffeine or alcohol at least 4 hours before bedtime
- Leaving smoking
- Relaxing for 30 minutes before bed
- These measures can help you fall asleep better and sleep longer at night. This can help reduce daytime sleepiness.
Your doctor may recommend other treatment options, conditional on your needs.
Depression
Treatment for depression is effective. This may contain psychotherapy, medication, or both. Lifestyle variations can also help, such as exercising, preventive alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet, and managing stress.
Untreated depression can worsen or persist. Treatment can help you develop coping strategies that can provide relief.
Age-related sleep problems
Lifestyle changes that help treat narcolepsy and insomnia can also help with age-related sleep problems. If lifestyle changes are not enough, your doctor might suggest other approaches. For example, they might prescribe sleep medication.
Idiopathic hypersomnia
Treatment for idiopathic hypersomnia may focus on relieving symptoms with stimulant medications, dietary changes, or lifestyle changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I constantly sleepy?
A persistent urge to sleep can be a sign of mental and physical fatigue, an underlying medical condition, an unbalanced diet, weather changes, or a sleep disorder.
For example, humid and hot weather can cause drowsiness, especially if you are not used to it. Not getting enough critical nutrients or calories can also make you want to sleep more than usual.
Why am I excessively sleepy?
Excessive sleepiness is feeling much sleepier than usual, despite getting enough sleep. In this case, only a doctor can determine the underlying cause, which may include a chronic illness or recent lifestyle changes.
What deficiencies cause excessive sleepiness?
Low heights of iron and B vitamins in the blood can sometimes lead to excessive sleepiness and fatigue. Restrictive diets, which may limit essential nutrients such as protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates, can also cause drowsiness and low energy. Only a healthcare professional can assess whether your symptoms are related to a nutritional deficiency.
How to get rid of persistent sleepiness?
Combating excessive sleepiness begins with identifying the possible causes. A healthcare professional can help you with this. Depending on the test results, they may recommend specific treatments, including medication, dietary changes, increased physical activity, or psychotherapy, among others.
Conclusion
Excessive sleepiness can have many causes, so the first step is to find the underlying cause of your symptoms.
If you feel more weary and sleepy than usual, consult a doctor. They may administer some tests or ask you additional questions. After a complete examination, they can recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs.