Problem Sleepiness (cont.)
Inadequate sleep
The amount of sleep needed each night varies among people. Each person needs
a particular amount of sleep in order to be fully alert throughout the day.
Research has shown that when healthy adults are allowed to sleep unrestricted,
the average time slept is 8 to 8.5 hours. Some people need more than that to
avoid problem sleepiness; others need less.
If a person does not get enough sleep, even on one night, a "sleep debt"
begins to build and increases until enough sleep is obtained. Problem sleepiness
occurs as the debt accumulates. Many people do not get enough sleep during the
work week and then sleep longer on the weekends or days off to reduce their
sleep debt. If too much sleep has been lost, sleeping in on the weekend may not
completely reverse the effects of not getting enough sleep during the week.
Sleep disorders
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy,
restless legs syndrome, and insomnia can cause problem sleepiness.
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which a person's
breathing is interrupted during sleep, causing the
individual to awaken many times during the night and experience problem
sleepiness during the day. People with
narcolepsy have excessive
sleepiness during the day, even after sleeping enough at night. They may fall
asleep at inappropriate times and places.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
causes a person to experience unpleasant sensations in the legs, often described
as creeping, crawling, pulling, or painful. These sensations frequently occur in
the evening, making it difficult for people with RLS to fall asleep, leading to
problem sleepiness during the day.
Insomnia is the perception of
poor-quality sleep due to difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night
with difficulty returning to sleep, waking up too early in the morning, or
unrefreshing sleep. Any of these sleep disorders can cause problem sleepiness.
Next: Medical conditions/drugs »
- Sleep Apnea - Learn about sleep apnea, including a description of types of sleep apnea, causes, complications, diagnosis, evaluation, treatments (surgical and non-surgical), and importance of treatment.
- Restless Leg Syndrome - Read about restless leg syndrome (RLS) causes, symptoms and treatments. RLS is more noticeable while sleeping and is associated with caffeine, alcohol and pregnancy.
- Sleep - Read about how to get a healthy nights sleep, how much sleep is enough, and why skimping on sleep can lead to poor performance, health, and moods.
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