Daytime Sleepiness: Why Am I Always Falling Asleep?

If you're struggling to stay awake during the day, you may be experiencing a condition known as hypersomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness. This condition is characterised by regularly falling asleep during the day, despite getting a full night's rest. It can be caused by various factors, including underlying medical conditions, lifestyle choices, and medications. It's important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the cause and explore treatment options, which may include medications, lifestyle changes, or therapy.

Sleep disorders

Sleep Deprivation

The most common cause of daytime sleepiness is sleep deprivation. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as not prioritising sleep, poor sleep quality, pain, or frequent nighttime urination.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions are associated with sleep issues and daytime drowsiness. These include mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, neurological conditions like narcolepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. Additionally, metabolic problems such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, as well as medical conditions like anemia and electrolyte imbalances, can contribute to excessive sleepiness.

Medications

Some medications can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness as a side effect. These include sedatives, antidepressants, pain medications, and antihistamines. It is important to discuss your medications and potential side effects with your doctor.

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors such as alcohol and drug use, lack of physical activity, obesity, and the use of certain medications can also contribute to daytime sleepiness. Environmental factors, such as noise and temperature, can also impact the quality of your sleep and lead to daytime drowsiness.

If you are experiencing excessive sleepiness during the day, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. They may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments to improve your sleep and alertness.

Underlying health conditions

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a symptom of an underlying health issue. While the most common cause is sleep deprivation, there are several medical conditions that can cause daytime drowsiness.

Mental Health Disorders

Depression is a common mental health condition that can cause excessive daytime sleepiness. Bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and general anxiety disorder are also associated with sleeping problems that may lead to bouts of excessive sleepiness.

Neurological Conditions

Narcolepsy is a neurological condition in which the brain cannot properly regulate the sleep-wake cycle. People with narcolepsy are prone to falling asleep rapidly, even at inopportune times, and may fall asleep in the middle of activities such as eating or talking.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson's disease are associated with sleeping difficulties and daytime drowsiness.

Injury and Infection

Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, brain tumours, and infections such as meningitis can cause excessive sleepiness.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cause sleeping problems, including daytime sleepiness.

Other Medical Conditions

Other medical conditions that can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness include metabolic problems such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, as well as anemia, abnormal blood sodium levels, and electrolyte imbalances.

Medications

Certain medications can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness, including sedatives, antidepressants, pain medications, and over-the-counter antihistamines.

If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and explore treatment options.

Medication side effects

Some common culprits that cause sleepiness include:

• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines, found in sleep aids or allergy medications
• Anti-emetics, which are used to control nausea and vomiting
• Antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, which can be used to treat seizures or depression
• Drugs to treat high blood pressure, including alpha and beta-blockers
• Benzodiazepines and other sedatives, commonly used for anxiety or insomnia
• Drugs for Parkinson's disease
• Muscle relaxants
• Opioids and other prescription pain medications
• Over-the-counter medicines for insomnia, allergies, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

If you are taking several medications that can cause drowsiness, the side effects may be more pronounced. It is important to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are experiencing excessive sleepiness during the day, as they may be able to adjust your dosage or change your medication.

Additionally, older adults are more likely to experience health problems due to sleep aids, as the drugs can stay in their system longer, causing prolonged drowsiness, confusion, and memory issues. This can increase the risk of falls, broken hips, and car accidents.

It is always important to consult a doctor or healthcare provider before taking any new medication, including over-the-counter sleep aids, to ensure they are safe for you and do not interact with any other medications you may be taking.

Lifestyle factors

There are a multitude of lifestyle factors that can cause you to fall asleep during the day. These are some of the most common ones:

Sleep schedule and habits: An irregular sleep schedule, such as staying up late and sleeping in on weekends, can disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. This can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness. Additionally, not getting enough sleep at night will likely cause daytime sleepiness. Adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

Environmental factors

There are numerous environmental factors that can contribute to daytime sleepiness. These factors relate to the external conditions and influences that affect an individual's sleep patterns and alertness during the day.

One significant environmental factor is light exposure. Our sleep-wake cycles are regulated by our body's internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which is strongly influenced by light. Exposure to natural light during the day, particularly in the morning, can help promote alertness and regulate sleep patterns. However, spending too much time in dimly lit or artificial light environments can disrupt these rhythms and contribute to daytime sleepiness.

Frequently asked questions