Problem sleepiness is a common complaint that can be caused by primary sleep disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or restless legs syndrome), secondary medical conditions, or lifestyle factors. It can impair work productivity, affect emotional lability, and increase safety risks while driving or engaging in other activities requiring alertness.
Treatment of problem sleepiness may include medications, behavioral interventions, or both. Wakefulness-promoting agents are commonly used to treat this condition.
Narcolepsy
Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most obvious symptom of narcolepsy, affecting all individuals with the condition. This drowsiness is so severe that people are easily overcome by uncontrollable episodes of sleep (known as "sleep attacks"), and they may fall asleep while driving or doing tasks that require attention.
Often, these episodes last only a few seconds or minutes, and they may come on quickly during the day or at night. They can also be accompanied by memory lapses.
In addition, people with narcolepsy sometimes experience a sudden loss of muscle tone, called cataplexy. This happens during episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness and is triggered by strong emotions. An approved use for the wake-promoting medication Modalert 200 Australia is the management of excessive sleepiness caused on by narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.
People with narcolepsy may also have hallucinations, which are visions that occur during or immediately after dreaming. These can be frightening and trigger feelings of dread or fear.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). It can affect a person's work, relationships, and overall health.
OSA occurs when the muscles that control your airway relax during sleep, narrowing or closing your throat. It happens dozens of times each hour, making it hard to breathe.
It can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, and other medical problems. Symptoms include loud snoring, trouble sleeping, feeling tired during the day, and morning headaches.
Treatment for OSA involves devices that pump pressurized air into your nose or mouth to keep your airway open while you sleep. These devices, called positive airway pressure (PAP) machines, are effective in most cases. In some patients, surgery is also used to treat severe OSA. The goal is to resolve breathing disruptions while sleeping, improve the quality of sleep, and reduce the risk of serious medical complications.
Shift work
Shift work is a common occurrence among many people, and it has been linked to several health problems. Some of these include gastrointestinal complaints, depression, fatigue, and impaired cognitive function and memory. You can also use Waklert Online to help you stay alert during the workplace if your work schedule prevents you from having a regular sleep routine (shift work sleep disorder).
In addition, shift workers are at risk for drowsy driving and car crashes. They also have higher rates of absenteeism and health costs from accidents.
A recent study compared regular shift workers with untreated patients with OSA, assessing sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), mood (Beck Depression Index), vigilance (Psychomotor Vigilance Task), and neurocognitive function (Logical Memory and Trail Making Test).
The results showed that both the shift worker and OSA groups experienced excessive sleepiness and impairments in vigilance and mood. They also had worse scores on the vigor/activity and fatigue/inertia subscales.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common problem and can be caused by anything from physical activity to emotional stress or boredom. It is usually a normal response to these things, but it can also be a sign of a more serious mental or physical condition.
It can affect people's daily lives, work, relationships, and mental and emotional health. Managing it well can help.
Your doctor can do some tests to find out what's causing your fatigue. These may include urine tests, imaging scans, or a mental health questionnaire.
If the cause is a medical condition, your doctor will suggest treatment. If it's a mental health problem, they may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or other treatments that don't involve drugs.
Some medicines can make you feel tired, so it's best to talk to your healthcare provider before stopping or changing them. They can also tell you which ones are risk-free to stop.
