Is excessive sleepiness a sign of a dangerous disease?

The key to overcoming excessive sleepiness is to identify its cause. A healthcare professional can help you explore other symptoms, possible causes, and next steps to increase your energy and alertness.

Any condition that prevents you from getting enough quantity and quality of sleep

Both can lead to excessive sleepiness.

In general, excessive daytime sleepiness is not the only symptom you experience. Other symptoms that may accompany it include snoring and restlessness while you sleep. You may not be aware of some of these symptoms.

Some causes of excessive sleepiness are not usually related to disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle but also result in daytime sleepiness. For example, thyroid disorders or cancer.

Here are some common causes of excessive sleepiness:

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious condition in which you repeatedly stop and start breathing throughout the night. This condition is one of the reasons why you feel sleepy during the day.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

- Loud snoring and gasping for breath while sleeping

- Sore throat and headache when waking up

- Reduced attention and concentration

- Irritable

Sleep apnea increases your risk of:

- High blood pressure

- Heart disease

- Type 2 diabetes

- Obesity

Sleep apnea can cause excessive sleepiness because it keeps you from getting enough sleep.

Depression:

A noticeable change in your sleep habits is a common symptom of depression. You may sleep more or less than you used to.

Other symptoms of depression include low motivation, frequent irritability, changes in appetite, feeling hopeless, and losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.

If you don't sleep well at night, you may feel excessively sleepy during the day. Sometimes changes in sleep are an early sign of depression. For others, changes in sleep habits occur after other signs of depression appear.

Depression has many potential causes, including abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals, problems with areas of the brain that control mood, and traumatic events.

Side effects of the drug:

Some medications have side effects that cause excessive drowsiness, which may include medications to treat:

- High blood pressure

- Depression

- Nasal congestion (antihistamines)

- Nausea and vomiting (antiemetics)

- Mental disorders

- Epilepsy

- Anxiety

If you think your prescription medication is making you sleepy, talk to your doctor about finding a solution that helps. It is important not to stop taking any medication without the supervision of your healthcare professional.

Aging:

Older adults typically need more sleep but have the lowest quality sleep. Aging is associated with changes in the circadian cycle that result in less time spent in the deep sleep stage of the cycle and more frequent waking in the middle of the night, experts say.

Chronic physical and mental conditions can also make it difficult to sleep through the night and lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.

Idiopathic insomnia:

When a healthcare professional cannot identify a clear cause for your excessive sleepiness, they may diagnose idiopathic insomnia (IH). Idiopathic means there is no clear cause for your symptoms.

IH is a chronic sleep disorder that involves persistent excessive sleepiness despite adequate or even long periods of sleep. You may also have difficulty waking up from sleep.

What substance deficiency in the body causes excessive sleepiness?

Low levels of iron and B complex vitamins in the blood can sometimes lead to excessive sleepiness and fatigue. Diets that are low in essential nutrients—like protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates—can also leave you feeling sleepy and lacking in energy.

Only a healthcare professional can assess whether your symptoms are related to a nutritional deficiency.

How to overcome excessive sleepiness:

Managing excessive sleepiness starts with identifying possible causes. Your healthcare professional will help you. Depending on their findings, they will recommend specific management options including medication, dietary changes, increased physical activity, or talk therapy, among others./.