Excessive sleepiness

What is important to know

Daytime sleepiness can be a natural consequence of lack of sleep. However, if a person regularly gets enough sleep but still feels a strong desire to fall asleep during the day, it is necessary to look for other possible reasons.

Drowsiness may be due to poor quality sleep at night, sleep-disordered breathing, certain sleep disorders, depression, physical illness, medications, alcohol, or other substances.

It is also important to distinguish drowsiness from fatigue and decreased energy.

When drowsy, it is difficult for a person to remain alert and there is a desire to fall asleep.

When tired, a person feels exhausted or lacks strength, but may not want to sleep and even have difficulty falling asleep.

These conditions can be combined.

How Excessive Sleepiness May Manifest

A person may notice:

strong desire to sleep during the day;

difficulty maintaining alertness during quiet activities;

the need to sleep regularly during the day;

falling asleep unintentionally;

difficulty waking up in the morning;

feeling of lethargy or “fog” after waking up;

decreased attention and reaction speed;

deterioration of memory and concentration;

irritability or decreased performance;

the feeling that even a long sleep does not bring sufficient vigor.

Possible reasons

Excessive sleepiness may be associated with:

insufficient sleep duration;

irregular sleep patterns;

insomnia and frequent awakenings at night;

snoring and obstructive sleep apnea;

certain other sleep disorders, including narcolepsy and hypersomnia;

depressive states;

chronic stress and overwork;

some somatic and neurological diseases;

taking medications with a sedative effect;

use of alcohol or other substances.

This list is not intended for self-diagnosis.

What to pay attention to

How long ago did drowsiness appear and does it occur every day?

How many hours do you usually sleep at night?

Do you feel refreshed after waking up?

Is there a need to sleep during the day and does daytime naps help?

Does it happen that you fall asleep unintentionally?

Is there loud snoring, shortness of breath, choking, or frequent awakenings at night?

Is it difficult to wake up in the morning even after a long sleep?

Is there a depressed mood, loss of interest, apathy or decreased energy?

Have you experienced weight changes, headaches, weakness, or other physical symptoms?

Whether drowsiness began after a new medication was prescribed or its dosage was changed.

Whether alcohol, sedatives or other substances are used.

Does drowsiness occur while driving or performing other activities that require constant attention?

What can help

If sleepiness is associated with chronic sleep deprivation, it is important to first ensure adequate sleep at night and maintain a relatively stable sleep and wake-up schedule.

It is also important to pay attention to sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and medications that may increase drowsiness.

If a person sleeps enough, but severe drowsiness persists, increasing sleep duration does not always solve the problem. In such a situation, it is important to find out its cause.

Before assessment, special care should be taken with driving and other potentially dangerous activities where there is a risk of falling asleep unintentionally.

When to ask for help

Contact your doctor if excessive sleepiness persists for several weeks, occurs despite getting enough sleep, or noticeably affects work, school, or daily activities.

Medical evaluation is especially important if loud snoring, sleep apnea, sudden episodes of falling asleep, severe difficulty waking up, or other unusual sleep symptoms are present.

If drowsiness appears after starting to take the medication, you should not stop taking the drug yourself - it is better to discuss this with the doctor who prescribed it.

If a person falls asleep or feels like they might fall asleep while driving, they should stop driving until the cause of the drowsiness is determined.

If excessive sleepiness is combined with a significant decrease in mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, or other noticeable changes in mental state, it is worth contacting a mental health professional.