Have you ever fallen asleep at the wrong time, for instance while in a meeting, at a luncheon, or during a football game? If daytime sleepiness seriously interrupts your daily activities, you could be suffering from a sleep disorder. Symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness may include occasional or constant drowsiness, a lack of mental alertness, fatigue, and falling asleep uncontrollably. The consequences of sleepy behavior are usually first recognized by others, and can greatly effect your life. People such as friends and business associates may mistake your behavior for boredom or disinterest. You may even be prone to falling asleep while driving, which can put you and others in serious jeopardy. Daytime sleepiness may be caused by a number of conditions that interrupt or inhibit nighttime sleep, including sleep apnea (AP-nee-uh) and insomnia. In addition, daily stress, anxiety, and diet can affect the quality and quantity of sleep you're getting each night. Daytime sleepiness can also be caused by a condition known as narcolepsy (NAR-ko-lep-see), which can cause you to fall asleep involuntarily. Fortunately, treatment of sleep disorders is highly successful once the underlying cause has been determined. For more information about daytime sleepiness, consult a health care specialist in your area.
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