One of the most prevalent sleep-related patient symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness, is thought to impact 20% of the general population. People who are excessively sleepy during the day have worse health than individuals of similar age and are more likely to be involved in accidents involving vehicles and at work. Therefore, you need to understand the common Causes of Excessive Sleepiness here.
Oversleeping throughout the day can have a variety of detrimental effects. Each year, more than 100,000 motor vehicle accidents result in 71,000 bodily injuries, and 1,500 fatalities are caused by sleep disorders.
Is Being Too Sleepy Common?
You’re not the only one who may be wondering why they are so tired. The prevalence of excessive sleepiness is high; in fact, 40% of persons experience hypersomnia on occasion.
The medical word for excessive tiredness and sleeping is hypersomnia. The condition is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness or spending more time asleep than usual (usually way beyond the recommended 7-9 hours). Many people who have hypersomnia can fall asleep anywhere or at any time, which can be a little uncomfortable at work but much more problematic while driving.
Should I Be Worried If I Sleep Too Much?
As you are aware, getting a good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining excellent health. However, not all cases of extreme drowsiness warrant concern. It’s normal to occasionally feel exhausted and spend one or two nights sleeping excessively. However, if you feel exhausted all the time and it’s affecting your quality of life, you might think about making some lifestyle adjustments or getting checked for any sleep disorders.
Because sleep disorders can potentially contribute to hypersomnia and have an impact on how you sleep, they can also negatively impact your general health, safety, and quality of life. Contrary to popular belief, sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and narcolepsy, can also result in hypersomnia or feeling too fatigued.
Significant health hazards are associated with hypersomnia, including diabetes, heart disease, and mortality.
Read through the things that may be causing your excessive tiredness if you are getting too much sleep. Some may not be dangerous and represent transient changes in sleep habits, while others are more problematic.
Causes of Sleeping Too Much and Fatigue
People with hypersomnia experience excessive daytime tiredness and uncharacteristically long nighttime sleep durations. But a variety of things can lead to excessive tiredness. Check out these 9 signs that you may be sleeping too much: Obstructive snoring.
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(OSA)
Up to 4% of middle-aged male individuals experience OSA, one of the most prevalent causes of excessive sleep.
As a result of relaxed tissue in the back of the throat obstructing the respiratory tract and impairing breathing while you are asleep, sleep apnoea causes complete or partial cessation of breathing (between 10 s and 1 min). As a result, you can have a tendency to wake up frequently, which leads to interrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Patients may complain of extreme daytime sleepiness or uncontrollable daytime sleepiness but are rarely aware of nighttime disturbances other than snoring.
People who have sleep apnea frequently have morning headaches and exhaustion, nocturnal polyuria (excessive urine at night), and sexual issues (ranging from decreased libido to impotence).
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Autonomic Dysfunctions
The autonomic nervous system could not function properly. A few sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndrome, are linked to clinically significant autonomic dysfunctions of the heart and lungs.
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Abuse Of Drugs And Alcohol
Alcohol use prevents REM sleep, which is when your body repairs itself. Regular use produces several adverse health effects, including poor sleep.
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Lack Of Sleep As A Result Of Change
People and young adults may have reasons to skip zzz’s or have restless nights due to a change in their job schedule, a new obligation after school, or a recent relationship problem.
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Physical Conditions or problems include a tumor, a head injury, or a central nervous system injury.
Thirty to seventy percent of people with traumatic brain injuries experience sleep difficulties. After a head injury, the most typical complaints are insomnia, exhaustion, and tiredness.
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Mental Health
People who have depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses may experience insomnia at night, which makes them more drowsy throughout the day.
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Medical Issues
Sleep habits can be significantly impacted by asthma, chronic discomfort, reflux, psychiatric diseases, and other excruciating conditions.
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Medications
Antihistamines, sleeping medications, and caffeine can all interfere with sleep cycles. Caffeine prevents brain receptors from absorbing adenosine, a chemical your body produces to help you fall asleep.
Although caffeine has a three to five-hour half-life, it can stay in your system for a very long time. In addition to not self-medicating, never discontinue taking these medications without first talking to your doctor.
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Time Zone
An illustration of a circadian rhythm sleep disturbance is jet lag. Our bodies do not instantly adjust to the environment’s 24-hour cycle of light and darkness when we change time zones. A person’s internal clock can become out of sync by just a few hours, which can lead to sleep-wake problems.
Conclusion
Numerous types of sleep disturbances can negatively affect your daily life. Therefore, it is best to get a diagnosis and potential treatment at a sleep facility with competent doctors if you suspect a sleep disorder or combination of disorders.
