Daytime sleepiness.

At what point is it a problem? What is the cause of daytime sleepiness?

Why are you sleepy all day?

Most of us will be familiar with the pleasant feeling of lying in bed at night and feeling the warm enveloping sensation of sleep falling upon us. It’s always a little bit blissful to drift off to a well-earned night of rest. Few things beat waking up in the morning after having had a good night’s sleep. However, for some of us, the alarm going off is the beginning of a battle that can last all day. If you’re familiar with the feeling of excessive daytime sleepiness, you’ll know how much of a problem it can be.

It’s estimated that one in five of us regularly have to drag ourselves through a day with our brains and bodies protesting every task. Our bodies can literally ache of sleepiness. As well, excessive daytime sleepiness is also often responsible for making us feel irritable and causing difficulty in thinking clearly. We can also often experience physical symptoms such as loss of appetite and headaches. If you’re someone who gets to bed at a reasonable time and yet still experiences all of this, then the below might be enlightening as to why.

Issues with sleep hygiene

The term “sleep hygiene” is somewhat of a niche expression. However, many of us can understand it as related to when we go to bed and when we get up, It can also be considered in reference to avoiding sleep during the day. Nonetheless, sleep hygiene is about much more than just when you sleep.

It includes when you eat, drink, wash up, and when you look at a screen within an hour of turning in for the night. Your phone, for example, beams blue light into your face at high intensity, and even if you drift off moments later, the quality of your sleep is affected by blue light. It’s also a bad idea to think about significant issues too close to bedtime. You can’t do much about your annual bonus at midnight, so try not to think about it.

What happens while you sleep?

When you fall asleep, for all intents and purposes, you are going on standby mode for the night. You are giving your body the chance to repair and recuperate before the next day. However, the human body isn’t always the finely-tuned machine we’d like it to be.  As a result, that spell on standby can include issues such as sleep apnea – where our sleeping body stops breathing for a period. It’s self-correcting, so you start breathing again, Oftentimes you will not even consciously notice. Nonetheless, if you’re tired in the day then it may be time to seek out some sleep apnea treatment information. You might well find the key to feeling better every day.

Speak to your doctor about medication

If you are on prescription medicine, there is a chance that it is diminishing the quality of your sleep. Some medications, including those used for high blood pressure, antidepressants, and antihistamines, can interfere with your sleep patterns. Additionally, they may cause stomach upset and issues such as restless legs syndrome (RLS). Have a chat with your doctor if you are concerned that your medication may be affecting your sleep. This doesn’t mean you should discontinue the use of the medication. I never recommend that you discontinue or change a medication without the prescribing doctor’s knowledge. It is simply a good idea to speak to your doctor as they may be able to offer advice on alternatives. They may also advise you on how to time your dosage so that it doesn’t affect your sleep.

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