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Sleepiness that results in problems functioning in the daytime
or even in staying awake in situations that demand it, such as
driving a car, is unfortunately very common. A variety of sleep
disorders may cause this symptom and identifying the specific
cause is usually quite possible. Good treatments are available
and most people with excessive sleepiness can obtain considerable
improvement; the goal is full resolution of the symptom.
Excessive sleepiness may result in greater risk of:
- car accidents
- injuries in the workplace
- poor work or school performance
- family conflicts, relationship problems, and missed social
opportunities
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is by far the most common cause of excessive sleepiness.
It is usually easily diagnosed in a sleep laboratory and several
treatment options can then be considered. Most people with snoring
or sleep apnea can be very successfully treated.
For more information, see Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is an uncommon sleep disorder that may have devastating
consequences, perhaps especially for those who have it for years
without being diagnosed and treated. Narcolepsy symptoms include
daytime sleepiness that is often severe, abnormalities of dream
experiences that may begin as soon as the person closes their
eyes, brief episodes of “sleep paralysis,” (inability to move
for a moment or two upon awakening), night time sleep that is
quite fragmented, and a complex symptom known as “cataplexy.”
Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle strength that may follow
a strong emotion such as laughing hard or getting really angry.
This may affect a small part of the body, perhaps resulting in
something as subtle as the head bobbing briefly, or it may affect
the whole body, resulting in falling and being unable to get
up for brief periods of time.
Other Disorders Causing Excessive Sleepiness
There are other less common sleep disorders, often with some
similarities to narcolepsy, that may cause excessive sleepiness.
Treatment
A variety of medical treatments are available for sleep disorders
causing excessive sleepiness and these typically result in much
improvement in quality of life.
Related Links:
www.sleepapnea.org
www.narcolepsy.network.org
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