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What Causes Daytime Sleepiness?
Question: During the daytime, I feel sleepy quite often. I am healthy person. But recently I have observed that whenever my body is at rest (e.g. sitting comfortably in chair in the office), my mind starts getting shut gradually and I start getting bouts of sleep. Sometimes its very strong and I feel as if I would fall down to the floor.
I get ample sleep of 7-8 hours every night. I also get up quite fresh in the morning. Why does it happen to me during the day? Please suggest.
I get ample sleep of 7-8 hours every night. I also get up quite fresh in the morning. Why does it happen to me during the day? Please suggest.
Brief Answer:
possibility of narcolepsy is there
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.
If you are healthy, not taking any medications and taking enough night sleep of approximately 7 hours; daytime sleepiness can be one of the symptoms of narcolepsy. Feeling of fall may be cataplexy (brief and sudden loss of muscle tone).
For diagnosis Sleep study is required. You have to consult psychiatrist or neurologist for the same.
Treatment of narcolepsy has both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic components. Sleep hygiene is important. Most patients improve if they maintain a regular sleep schedule, usually 7.5-8 hours of sleep per night. Scheduled naps during the day also may help.
Pharmacologic treatment of narcolepsy involves the use of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants such as methylphenidate, modafinil, dextroamphetamine sulfate, methamphetamine, and amphetamine. These medications help reduce daytime sleepiness, improving the symptom in 65-85% of patients. In patients for whom stimulant treatment is problematic, subjective benefit from treatment with codeine has been reported.
Other common reason for daytime sleepiness is excessive stress, atypical depression or sometime hypothyroidism. Serum thyroid level and detail history by psychiatrist can rule out these factors.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
possibility of narcolepsy is there
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.
If you are healthy, not taking any medications and taking enough night sleep of approximately 7 hours; daytime sleepiness can be one of the symptoms of narcolepsy. Feeling of fall may be cataplexy (brief and sudden loss of muscle tone).
For diagnosis Sleep study is required. You have to consult psychiatrist or neurologist for the same.
Treatment of narcolepsy has both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic components. Sleep hygiene is important. Most patients improve if they maintain a regular sleep schedule, usually 7.5-8 hours of sleep per night. Scheduled naps during the day also may help.
Pharmacologic treatment of narcolepsy involves the use of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants such as methylphenidate, modafinil, dextroamphetamine sulfate, methamphetamine, and amphetamine. These medications help reduce daytime sleepiness, improving the symptom in 65-85% of patients. In patients for whom stimulant treatment is problematic, subjective benefit from treatment with codeine has been reported.
Other common reason for daytime sleepiness is excessive stress, atypical depression or sometime hypothyroidism. Serum thyroid level and detail history by psychiatrist can rule out these factors.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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