Why Do I Fall Asleep During the Day?

There are many reasons you might feel extra tired during the day. A busy life, unhealthy sleep habits, and alcohol consumption can all impact sleep quality. But if you find yourself falling asleep in the middle of the day, it may be time for a sleep study.

At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, we offer diagnostic services to identify what’s causing excessive daytime sleepiness.

Our sleep experts, Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, specialize in treating underlying disorders that disrupt sleep, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. They design care plans to optimize sleep quality and improve overall health.

What daytime sleepiness looks like

People experience daytime sleepiness in different ways. Some may experience excessive tiredness or drowsiness that disrupts physical activities and concentration.

Others may feel it’s impossible to keep their eyes open even after getting adequate sleep the previous night. Some of these fall asleep multiple times throughout the day.

Some people describe excessive daytime sleepiness as a persistent lack of energy, low motivation, and even unexplained confusion.

Lifestyle factors that contribute to daytime sleepiness

Numerous reasons for excessive daytime sleepiness relate to your daily lifestyle, including:

Diet and eating habits

Eating heavy meals early in the day can lead to increased tiredness. You may also feel sleepy if you consume a lot of processed or sugary foods.

Sedentary lifestyle

A lack of exercise can slow your metabolism and make you feel sluggish throughout the day.

Sleep habits

Going to bed too late can make you feel tired the next day. You may also find it hard to fall asleep if you’re overstimulated by your phone, TV, or other electronic device.

Medical reasons for excessive daytime sleepiness

Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep treats many people with underlying medical conditions that impact sleep quality. Common conditions responsible for daytime sleepiness include:

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes temporary pauses in your breathing during the night that forces you to wake up gasping for air. Loud snoring caused by sleep apnea can also interfere with your and your loved one’s ability to sleep well.

Restless leg syndrome

Restless leg syndrome causes uncomfortable sensations in one or both legs. As a result, people develop strong urges to move their legs to relieve the discomfort. The constant movement can make falling and staying asleep difficult.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that disrupts your natural sleep-wake cycle. That causes sudden, uncontrollable urges to fall asleep, even when eating or talking.

Don’t delay treatment for daytime sleepiness

Going too long without quality sleep can lead to sleep deprivation, which can cause a variety of other health complications, including:

• Weight gain
• Poor immunity
• Digestive upset
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Cardiovascular disease
• Depression and other mental health challenges

Excessive daytime sleepiness can also increase your risk of car accidents, falls, and other events that compromise your health.

Our sleep experts offer comprehensive sleep testing to identify the factors contributing to your daytime sleepiness. They design customized care plans that use lifestyle changes, improved diet, and medications to boost the quality of your sleep so that you can enjoy better health.

Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep today to schedule a sleep study for daytime sleepiness.