1. Causes of Fatigue Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Sleep Quiz
3. Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep Slideshow Pictures

In this Article

• Problem sleepiness facts*
• What is problem sleepiness?
• What are the symptoms of problem sleepiness?
• What causes problem sleepiness?
• Sleep-wake cycle
• Inadequate sleep
• Sleep disorders
• Medical conditions/drugs
• Problem sleepiness and adolescents
• Shift work and problem sleepiness
• What treatments and remedies can help for problem sleepiness?
• Patient Comments: Problem Sleepiness - Treatment
• Find a local Sleep Specialist in your town
• Problem Sleepiness Index

Certain medical conditions and drugs, including prescription medications, can also disrupt sleep and cause problem sleepiness. Examples include:

• Chronic illnesses such as asthma, congestive heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other chronically painful disorder;

• Some medications to treat high blood pressure, some heart medications, and asthma medications such as theophylline;

• Alcohol-Although some people use alcohol to help themselves fall asleep, it causes sleep disruption during the night, which can lead to problem sleepiness during the day. Alcohol is also a sedating drug that can, even in small amounts, make a sleepy person much more sleepy and at greater risk for car crashes and performance problems;

• Caffeine-Whether consumed in coffee, tea, soft drinks, or medications, caffeine makes it harder for many people to fall asleep and stay asleep. Caffeine stays in the body for about 3 to 7 hours, so even when taken earlier in the day it can cause problems with sleep at night; and

• Nicotine from cigarettes or a skin patch is a stimulant and makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.