If you struggle to stay awake during the day, you may suffer from excessive sleepiness. The problem can affect your ability to concentrate at work, drive safely, or carry out your usual daily activities. Dr. Michael Labanowski, your board-certified sleep doctor at Southern Sleep Clinics, can determine why you're so sleepy and offer therapies, recommendations or medications that can help. He diagnoses and treats many types of sleep disorders, including excessive sleepiness, sleep apnea, insomnia, snoring and restless leg syndrome.
Causes of Excessive Sleepiness
It's not unusual to feel sleepier than usual if you worked a double shift or are sick. In most cases, you'll feel well-rested again once you recover from your illness or get a good's night sleep.
Unfortunately, sometimes excessive sleepiness becomes a chronic problem. You may feel very sleepy if you suffer from:
- Insomnia: Insomnia affects your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Approximately 30 percent of American adults have insomnia symptoms, and 10 percent have severe insomnia that causes daytime consequences, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
- Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea causes many short breathing pauses during the night. The pauses can occur if your tongue partially or fully blocks your airway, your throat walls collapse when you sleep, or excess tissue prevents air from flowing freely. Every time you stop breathing, your body prompts you to wake up and resume normal breathing. Unfortunately, hundreds of breathing during the night may leave you feeling sleep deprived during the day.
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): RLS causes uncomfortable creeping, itching or jerking sensations in your legs, most often at night. The syndrome may make it difficult to fall asleep or even remain still.
- Narcolepsy: If you have narcolepsy, you may not be able to stay awake during the day, no matter how hard you try. You might be talking to co-workers during a meeting or making dinner when you have the overwhelming urge to sleep. Although you may only stay asleep for a few minutes at a time, narcolepsy can disrupt your life and increase your risk of injuries.
Treating Excessive Sleepiness
Help is available for excessive sleepiness, whether the problem began recently or you've struggled with sleep issues for some time. After reviewing your medical history and symptoms, Dr. Labanowski may recommend a sleep study or other tests that will help him make a diagnosis.
Treatments options for excessive sleepiness, sleep apnea, insomnia, snoring or restless leg syndrome may include lifestyle and sleep modifications, stress reduction, dietary changes or medications that improve your sleep or help you stay alert during the day. If you have sleep apnea, you may benefit from using a continuous positive airway machine (CPAP), a device that keeps your airway open by sending a continuous stream of air into your airway while you sleep.
Suffering from Excessive Sleepiness? Dr. Labanowski Can Help, Call Today To Schedule An Appointment. We Are Located In Dothan, AL