DrowsinessDefinition Drowsiness refers to feeling abnormally sleepy during the day -- often with a strong tendency to actually fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate times. Considerations Excessive daytime sleepiness (without a known cause) suggests the presence of a significant sleep disorder and is different from fatigue. Although depression,anxiety, stress, and boredom can contribute to excessive sleepiness, these conditions more typically cause fatigue and apathy. Common Causes
Home Care The cause must be treated. For drowsiness due to depression, anxiety, boredom, stress, try to solve problems without professional help first. For drowsiness due to medications, talk to your health care provider about switching medications or discontinuing them. DO NOT CHANGE MEDICATIONS WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. For drowsiness due to obesity and hypoventilation (reduced breathing), weight loss is recommended, and your health care provider should be consulted. Hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, and hypo/hypernatremia are treated by your health care provider depending on the situation. For drowsiness due to narcolepsy, stimulants (like Ritalin) may be prescribed. For drowsiness due to other causes, seek medical help. Call your health care provider if
What to expect at your health care provider's office The doctor will examine you to determinet he cause of your drowsiness. Sleep patterns will be investigated and a psychological profile obtained. Medical history questions documenting drowsiness in detail may include:
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
After seeing your health care provider: If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to drowsiness, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record. Page Content: Sleepiness - during the day; Hypersomnia; Somnolence ; hypersomnia; idiopathic hypersomnia; hypersomnia treatment; apathy hypersomnia myotonic; diagnosis hypersomnia idiopathic; primary hypersomnia; post traumatic hypersomnia; cataplexy hypersomnia idiopathic; hypersomnia psychiatric treatment; somnolence; somnolence definition; define somnolence; excessive somnolence; daytime somnolence; excessive daytime somnolence |