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Excessive sleepiness is a common symptom of manydisorders.
It typically occurs during the day, which is why its also referred to as excessive daytime sleepiness.
Another name for this is hypersomnia.
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Excessive daytime sleepiness commonly occurs in older people, teenagers, and people who work shifts.
People with excessive daytime sleepiness often struggle to stay awake or alert during the day.
They experience a strong desire to sleep and feel theyll be unable to function properly if they dont.
Symptoms of Excessive Sleepiness
Excessive daytime sleepiness might sometimes be confused withfatigue or weariness.
Its not unusual to feel sleepy the day after a restless or late night.
Still, its unusual for this to occur several days in a row.
Research shows that children who have excessive sleepiness may also have developmental problems.
In adults, it increases the risk of cognitive decline and memory loss.
If you sleep with a partner regularly, it can also help if they come along during your assessment.
Your partner can give your doctor further insight into sleeping patterns you might not have noticed.
Causes of Excessive Sleepiness
There is no single cause of excessive sleepiness.
In many cases, its linked to other sleep disorders.
A leading cause of the condition issleep deprivation, which people with conditions such as insomnia often experience.
However, excessive sleepiness isnt only experienced by people with sleep disorders.
Other disruptions to your sleep pattern could cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
For many, this can be rectified by simply getting enough sleep and fixing your sleep schedule.
In other cases, medical intervention may be required.
Other causes of excessive sleepiness include side effects of certain medications and mental health conditions like depressive andsubstance usedisorders.
Antihistamines, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, and anti-depressants have all been linked to excessive daytime sleepiness.
Sleep Disorders
Excessive daytime sleepiness has commonly been linked to obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person to breathe abnormally while they are asleep.
This, in turn, disrupts and reduces the quality of their sleep and can lead to daytime sleepiness.
Treatment for Excessive Sleepiness
In most cases, excessive sleepiness is a sign of an underlying condition.
Addressing the condition is typically the key to resolving excessive daytime sleepiness.
Coping With Excessive Sleepiness
Excessive daytime sleepiness can severely disrupt your daily functioning to varying degrees.
A good nights sleep should resolve this.
Theyll do an evaluation and potentially run tests to determine the underlying cause of your sleepiness.
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