What Causes Excessive Sleepiness?

Causes of Excessive Sleepiness

Many people commonly experience excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), with research showing that up to 25% of the U.S. population Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source is affected. There is no universal cause or treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness, because different people experience it for various reasons.

Research shows people experience EDS as a result of a wide variety of underlying causes, including:

• Sleep deprivation due to lifestyle, jet lag, or sleep problems
• Sleep disorders
• Disturbed sleep due to environmental disruptions
• Neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy
• Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• Health problems, including heart and liver failure
• Medications such as pain relievers 

Sleep Disorders That Commonly Cause Excessive Sleepiness

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a symptom of many sleep disorders, including: 

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Restless legs syndrome
• Periodic limb movements disorder
• Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as jet lag or shift work sleep disorder
• Narcolepsy
• Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, and sleep-related leg cramps
• Menstrual-related sleep disorder, which may include excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia in the days leading up to menstruation Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source
• Idiopathic hypersomnia

Of the many sleep disorders that can cause EDS, only two present primarily as excessive sleepiness: narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. However, in some cases a person is unaware of additional symptoms that occur while they are asleep. For example, a person with obstructive sleep apnea might not realize they stop breathing during the night, and someone with periodic limb movements disorder might not realize they often twitch while asleep. 

Talking to your doctor about your symptoms is the best way to begin understanding your personal causes of sleepiness, whether or not a sleep disorder is a factor.

Identifying and Treating Causes of Excessive Sleepiness

Learning the cause of your excessive sleepiness is essential because of the significant toll excessive sleepiness can take on your life. Excessive sleepiness in adolescents can negatively impact their school performance, personal relationships, overall health, and driving ability Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . In adults, excessive sleepiness can greatly affect their work, leading to lower productivity, more absences, and even an increased risk of on-the-job accidents Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

If you are experiencing excessive sleepiness, tell your doctor. They can work with you to determine the cause and identify appropriate treatments. To diagnose underlying problems, your doctor may:

• Ask questions about your sleep quality, sleep habits, and daytime drowsiness concerns
• Ask questions about your medical history, including any past diagnoses
• Ask you to complete a questionnaire rating the sleepiness levels you feel at different times of day
• Order a sleep study
• Order other medical tests or refer you to another type of doctor

Depending on what comes out of your examination, your doctor will likely recommend one of the following treatments for excessive daytime sleepiness:

• Improved sleep hygiene, such as a consistent bedtime and nighttime routine
• Treatment for underlying sleep disorders, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for obstructive sleep apnea or sleep medications for other disorders
• Further evaluation by a physician to treat underlying disease
• Medications that promote wakefulness