Up to a fourth of the people in the United States experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Excessive daytime sleepiness is the sensation of feeling incredibly tired, as if you can't keep your eyes open. It is a symptom that can impact a person's daily life by impairing concentration, reducing their ability to perform well at work in school, and increasing the risk of accidents.
One way to determine if you have excessive daytime sleepiness is by using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The ESS is a tool that can help doctors determine if you have drowsiness that is of concern or is just a manifestation of poor sleep habits at night. This simple questionnaire is used to determine how a person's sleepiness affects their everyday life.
For people who are concerned about their ability to stay alert during the day, using the ESS, knowing how it works, and knowing what the results mean can help you learn more about your own health. It can also help you engage with conversations with your physician about what your symptoms mean and what to do next period continue reading to learn more about the ESS and how to use it in your journey towards getting a good night's sleep.