The occasional yawn, or post-lunch slump is completely normal, but do you ever notice feeling overly tired all the time? Even when you feel like you got enough rest the night before? You could be experiencing excessive sleepiness. This can be caused by a majority of things, and it's especially problematic when it interferes with different parts of your life. 

For example, if you find yourself dozing off during a meeting or while driving, your excessive sleepiness is problematic. Most people who experience this level of sleepiness have an underlying cause of which they are not even aware. Pinpointing the cause of one's excessive sleepiness is the first step in overcoming it. Continue reading to find out what may be causing your excess sleepiness.

What is excessive sleepiness? 

Excessive sleepiness refers to the almost overwhelming urge to fall asleep when you want to be awake - like during the day. Many people experience this feeling - up to 37% of the population reports feeling this way at least a few times a month. 

Although excessive sleepiness shares similarities with fatigue, it is very distinct in that someone will simply nod off when they desire to be awake. Being fatigued does not cause that. In order to figure out how to solve your excessive sleepiness, you must first identify the problem. 

Why you are so sleepy

if you have experienced the above symptoms, you may ask yourself why you feel that way. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer because everyone experience this at different times. Research shows that people experience EDS as a result of a variety of underlying causes like sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, disturbed sleep, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders, health problems, and medications. 

If you don't have an underlying problem, that you know of, causing excessive sleepiness, then you may want to reach out to your doctor and see if you actually may have one. 

Common sleep disorders that cause EDS

Many sleep disorders commonly cause EDS. If you have yet to figure out why you are so tired all the time, it may be worth it to talk to a sleep health professional to identify the underlying cause. 

Some common sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders. 

OSA is a disorder where the muscles in the back of your throat relax and block the airway leading to brief pauses in breathing throughout sleep. Your body wakes up to begin breathing again - effectively interrupting your sleep. You most likely will be unaware of the fact that you have woken up or that you are having trouble breathing which can make it even more confusing why you are tired. 

Restless leg syndrome is a disorder where there are abnormal sensations and a strong desire to move the legs. This especially happens at night or while lying down which can interfere with falling asleep or cause nighttime awakenings. 

Periodic limb movement disorders happens when someone experience frequent leg or arm twitching during sleep. 

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders like jet lag or shift work disorder happen when the person's internal clock is not aligned with the natural rise and fall of the sun, making it difficult for them to regulate their sleep. This leads to increased fatigue during the day and increased alertness at night. 

There are many other disorders that can lead to excessive sleepiness, most of which can be found here.  

Of all of them, however there are two that primarily present with excessive daytime sleepiness. They are narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Narcolepsy is when you have an overwhelming desire to fall asleep and idiopathic hypersomnia is when someone requires extra sleep without having any other sleeping disorders. 

Identifying and Treating Causes of Excessive Sleepiness 

Learning the reason behind excessive daytime sleepiness can do wonders for treating it. Excessive sleepiness in adolescents can negatively impact school performance, personal relationships, overall health and driving ability. In adults, it can negatively impact their work, leading to reduced productivity and more absent days. It can even increase risk of on-the-job accidents. 

If you're experiencing excessive sleepiness, please click the orange button below to take a free online sleep test and talk to one of our sleep health professionals. They can help you identify the potential causes of your excessive daytime sleepiness so you can begin the road to recovery. 

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/causes