The actual term somnolence basically means
or drowsy sleep,
but it is also used to refer to the chronic
condition of constantly feeling tired or needing excessive amounts of
people suffer from excessive tiredness and constantly feel the
need for sleep, something which even a nap will not change, and the
reasons for this drowsy sleep condition can be quite varied. Therefore,
if you have these feelings of somnolence, it is highly recommended that
you see a doctor
to determine the underlying cause, as it could be
related to a serious medical condition or a sleeping disorder.
Alternatively, your doctor may also be able to prescribe you medicine
which may help to combat your drowsy sleep problem.
reason that it is recommended to see a doctor if you constantly
feel excessively tired is that the causes are so wide ranging and
varied that it is virtually impossible for one to diagnose the causes
of their own sleepiness.
most cases, your physician will run
series of different tests to try and determine exactly
what is causing
it, but sometimes even physicians have a hard time, so it may be
necessary to try out many different solutions before you finally find
one that fixes the problem.
of the most common causes of somnolence can include:
There are many
different sleeping disorders which could be the responsible. Some of
the more common ones are insomnia,
and even excessive
snoring unrelated to any other
condition. If your doctor determines a sleeping disorder is the
underlying problem, then they will most likely suggest the use of
sleeping aid or device, cognitive behavioral therapy, or possibly even
- Sleeping Disorders
There are a huge
number of different medical conditions that could also be responsible
for your drowsy sleep. In addition, it could also be a result of a
treatment that you are undergoing for a medical condition.
types of cancer and also certain cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
can result in this problem, as can diabetes, anemia, an underactive
thyroid gland, and chronic pain. Alternatively, it could also be a
result of a mental condition such as depression, stress, boredom, or
you are currently undergoing treatment for an illness or
other medical condition, then your doctor may experiment with other
treatment options to determine if it could be the cause.
People who take certain types of medication may also experience
excessive sleepiness. Some drugs
known to cause this problem include antihistamines, tranquilizers,
steroids, sedatives, and even sleeping pills. Again, if you are
currently on any of these medications, your doctor may recommend
changing to a different medicine to see if it helps to combat your
to Combat Somnolence
each of the medical conditions above may have their own
solutions, there are also other ways that you can try to combat your
excessive sleepiness if nothing else works. In some cases, people just
seem to be constantly
drowsy and no
underlying cause can be determined
or no treatment method works.
these cases, many physicians will
choose to prescribe a drug to help keep the patient more awake
and alert during the day. There are a few different wakefulness
promoting drugs that may be able to help those with
drowsiness, and they are often prescribed for individuals suffering
from a sleeping disorder.
The two most common types
(Provigil) and armodafinil
(Nuvigil). These drugs can help reduce drowsiness by affecting
chemicals in the brain to keep the person more awake. Both types of
medicine are considered
safe for daily use.
experience dizziness, anxiety, headaches, and even insomnia while
taking these medications, so
they are not right for everyone.
Nonetheless, if you are tired of constantly feeling drowsy, then these
pills might just be the perfect choice for you.
some people are against taking medication and may not want to
go this route to deal with their tiredness problem. Luckily there is
hope for people like this, and there are actually many, quite simple
things that you can do to at least manage your drowsiness and help keep
it under control.
of the things you can do involve changing
sleeping habits and patterns, while others are simply
can do in your daily life which may help. Nonetheless, it must be noted
that all of these activities fall under the category of symptom
management, meaning that they will do nothing to solve the
problem, but can still make the condition and its symptoms have less of
an effect on your everyday life. Some of the most effective symptom
management strategies for excessive drowsiness and hypersomnia include:
- Making sure
you go to sleep and wake up
at the same time each day. Developing
a routine can help reset your
body’s internal clock and make it more aware of when the appropriate
time to be tired is. This might be the single most useful tip: if you
don't do anything else, at least do this;
- Sleeping for a
few extra hours each
night. If you find your sleepiness impossible to deal with, try to add
an extra hour or two to your sleep schedule to see if this extra time
spent sleeping can reduce your drowsiness during the day;
- Only use the
bed for sleeping. Making
sure that you only spend time in bed when sleeping is another great way
to develop better sleeping patterns. No watching TV from
your bed, eating, or writing your latest novel on your laptop.
- Try to do at least some
day, and as
early in the day as possible. Exercise will actually give
you energy, and the earlier in the day you do it, the better. Try not
to exercise too hard after 7pm, as the adrenaline release can disturb
your rest later on.
to Sleep Medication
to the Snoring