The feeling of being severely sleep-deprived has an unpleasant impact on the entire course of the day. The signs that signal the need to fall asleep are difficult to deal with when you have to fight them off to carry on with your daily activities. Itchy eyes, frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, and—above all—a dazed state with a foggy mind are all signs of drowsiness. Everyone experiences bouts of drowsiness. But don’t confuse drowsiness with fatigue, as this can quickly become a problem. This chronic fatigue is called daytime sleepiness. It’s a condition that hinders daily life and can lead to accidents due to reduced alertness. So, is it temporary or persistent drowsiness? Here’s more on the causes and symptoms.
How can you recognize pathological daytime sleepiness?
Feeling sleepy during the day is very common and can easily be remedied by taking a nap or doing a short relaxation exercise. Everyone experiences sleep deprivation at different times in their lives, but in most cases it is temporary.Drowsiness is normal when it occurs at times of the day when falling asleep is imminent: after eating a hearty lunch, when digestion makes you want to take a nap, or in the evening before going to bed. This condition becomes problematic when it occurs at any time of the day and interferes with the proper performance of any activity. This is a real concern because, according to studies, 1 in 5 French people is affected by episodes of daytime sleepiness. The signs of daytime sleepiness are the same as the physical signs that prompt falling asleep: difficulty keeping the eyes open, rubbing the eyes, frequent yawning, shivering, poor concentration, increased irritability, and a general decline in alertness.
Daytime drowsiness can be very debilitating and even very dangerous, because according to traffic safety authorities, the risk of an accident is eight times higher when a person is drowsy. Furthermore, 8% of fatal traffic accidents are caused by drowsiness. To regain a healthy quality of life and ensure your safety, it is necessary to determine the cause of this condition if it persists.
What are the causes of pathological daytime sleepiness?
Of course, the primary cause of drowsiness is a lack of sleep or factors that disrupt sleep. However, this lack of sleep is not caused by the same factors in every case. We can therefore identify three main causes:
- Causes related to an unhealthy lifestyle: This primarily affects teenagers, who tend to go to bed late, and new parents whose sleep is disrupted by their newborn’s schedule. In these cases, daytime sleepiness occurs regularly.
- Hormonal causes, which affect pregnant women, among others. During pregnancy, various hormonal changes—particularly those involving progesterone—disrupt sleep. Fortunately, this is often limited to the first trimester of pregnancy.
- Causes of in s due to a disorder or illness: There is sleep apnea, which disrupts sleep with frequent awakenings. Or restless legs syndrome, which causes an irresistible urge to move one’s legs, especially when lying down. Certain medications can also lead to a poor night’s sleep, such as anxiolytics or opioids. Among the rarer medical conditions are idiopathic hypersomnia, which causes daytime sleepiness despite getting a significant amount of sleep at night, and narcolepsy, which is also characterized by daytime sleepiness and uncontrolled episodes of falling asleep. Finally, any condition that leads to chronic insomnia —such as stress, anxiety, or depression—is even more likely to cause regular, excessive daytime sleepiness.
Of course, there are other causes as well—such as caffeine, seasonal changes, or even poor-quality bedding —that can cause discomfort at night, but these should not be long-term issues. In fact, it’s easyto improve sleep quality and reduce sleep disturbances by adopting new habits.If, despite a healthy lifestyle and low stress levels, you suffer from drowsiness and this sleep disorder is hindering your daily life, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional for a health evaluation or even a drowsiness test (or Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Taking care of your sleep also means taking care of your health and well-being!