Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a Curse – Why so?
We all feel tired or frustrated at some point of time during the day. It may be because of an overloaded work schedule or we just need some rest. Sometimes, when we haven’t got a peaceful night’s sleep, daytime sleepiness doesn’t let us concentrate on anything else.
It’s okay to experience such instances occasionally. But, if they have become a routine part of your life, don’t ignore them. Your sleeping habits define your mood & everything else aligns on this basis. No wonder you may feel a bit sleepy or wanting to nap. However, if you’re consistently thinking about bedtime during the day, it is not normal.
Low energy levels and constant drowsiness are not acceptable at all. Don’t leave daytime sleepiness to heal on its own. You should work towards getting your night’s sleep back. Let us tell you why.
Daytime Sleepiness & its correlation with Sleep Disturbances
The extreme desire to sleep during the day is technically termed sleep apnea, Narcolepsy, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), or Hypersomnia. It’s a situation when you want nothing but experience a strong desire to sleep.
EDS happens anytime when you have not slept well for at least 7-8 hours at night. Sometimes, the temporary side effects of medications, certain lifestyle choices, stress, or anxiety keep you from nighttime sleep.
You observe the following changes in your behaviour if you have narcolepsy:
- Chronic brain fog, confusions & difficulty in decision-making
- Forgetfulness
- Loss of productivity at work
- Fall asleep while eating or talking
- Unable to sleep at night
- Nap during daytime but don’t feel refreshed
- Simple life pleasures are lost as you’re feeling lazy all the time
It’s not necessary that only adults may be suffering from narcolepsy. Daytime sleepiness can also disturb the quality of life among children and adolescents. As a result, they start living with fatigue and lack of activeness. Elder children may suffer from motivation loss due to consistent fatigue. So, don’t assume it as a nominal need to nap.
Causes of Daytime Sleepiness Troubles
- Inconsistent sleep-wake cycle
- Sleep deprivation
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Sedating medications
- Disturbed mental health
- Psychiatric disorders
- Shift work disorder
- Jet lag
Can you even determine a particular cause that’s bothering your sleep? If not, you need to visit a doctor.
Talk to a Therapist
One of the most common problems with people suffering from daytime sleepiness is they don’t feel like talking about it. They think that it could be due to one or other reasons and things will get normal soon. As a result, EDS is overlooked and it becomes a major issue.
It is extremely important to see your doctor before making assumptions. Maybe some critical medical reasons are responsible for your sleep troubles. You cannot cure narcolepsy overnight. Only a doctor can diagnose if it is obstructive sleep apnea, hypersomnia, or something else.
Basically, your circadian rhythm is disturbed. Your brain cells don’t receive the right signals as to when you should wake up & stay active and when you should sleep & take a rest. Address such sleep troubles by consulting an expert healthcare provider.
Treatment Options for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
First of all, you should set in your mind that narcolepsy cannot be treated or cured. You can only find some natural therapies, lifestyle changes, and medications that will minimize its effect.
After using medications like Modalert, your daytime productivity will increase. You’ll be able to perform your routine tasks with 100% focus and with a non-sleepy mood. The energy will feel restored and as you’ll be working all day, you will fall asleep during nighttime.
Similar medication options like Waklert are also available for narcolepsy resulting from obstructive sleep apnea. It is a condition when breathing stops involuntarily during sleep. Hence, using such medications is inevitable to not bet your life on EDS.
Modvigil is especially prescribed to shift work sleep disorder patients who are consistently disturbed due to shifting routines at work. The urge to sleep at work may lead to accidents & they may put their lives at risk. It is always better to get help from the medicines that regulate the sleep-wake cycle properly.
When it comes to behavioural changes, you’ll have to do the following:
- Exercise regularly
- Meditate to calm your mind & stay away from negativity
- Try to go to bed & wakeup at the same time daily
- Don’t prefer caffeine in the latter part of your day
- Schedule your naps before 3 AM
- Make your bedroom sleep-friendly
- Limit alcohol consumption at night
- Prefer nutrition-rich diet
Final Thoughts
Though you cannot prevent narcolepsy, you can still find ways that improve your quality of life. As seen above, narcolepsy creates an imbalance that’ll be your loss ultimately. Don’t let it happen. Act responsibly for yourself. After all, if you won’t care for yourself, who else will?
