A Because daytime sleepiness is such a common and seemingly harmless experience among adults, it often is
ignored by patients and doctors alike. But studies of people who are consistently sleepy have revealed that many have a specific condition that causes daytime sleepiness.
People who fall asleep during normal activities like driving, talking or working are extremely sleepy and likely need to be evaluated by a doctor. On the other hand, people who doze off occasionally after a heavy meal probably don't need medical attention.
It is possible that you just aren't getting enough sleep at night. Keep a sleep diary so you can measure the exact number of hours you sleep each night. A good indicator of whether you're getting enough sleep every night is if you sleep an extra two hours or more a day whenever you can, such as on the weekend.
If this happens to you, you're not getting enough sleep at night. Most likely, changing your nighttime sleep habits will fix the problem.
If getting more sleep at night doesn't work, the issue could be more serious. Natural sleep rhythms can be disturbed by frequent long-distance plane travel or working irregular shifts. Possible treatments include adjusting sleep schedules, changing work shifts or, in certain cases, drug therapy.
Narcolepsy, an uncommon, inherited disorder, also can cause excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea, a more common sleep disorder, can cause daytime sleepiness and is characterized by loud nighttime snoring. If excessive daytime sleepiness persists, a sleep test may be necessary.
—Stuart Quan, M.D., director, Sleep Disorders Center, and associate department head, Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson
AHSC consists of The University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, the School of Health Professions, University Medical Center and The University Physicians
Editors Note: ASK AHSC is published by the AHSC Office of Public Affairs. ASK AHSC is available on the Internet at www.ahsc.arizona.edu/opa/answers. To receive ASK AHSC via E-mail, call (520) 626-7301.
Health questions should be sent to: ASK AHSC, AHSC Office of Public Affairs, PO Box 245095, Tucson, AZ 85724-5095, or E-mail to: jspinell@u.arizona.edu. The information here is not intended to replace the advice of your physician. For referral to a UA Physician, please call University Health Connection, (520) 694-8888.
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