Daytime Sleepiness
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Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep
Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists located in St. Petersburg, FL
About 20% of people in the United States battle persistent daytime sleepiness that interfere with their ability to work and meet their responsibilities. At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, pulmonary specialists Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, offer comprehensive diagnostic testing to identify the underlying cause of your sleepiness. They also customize a treatment plan to improve your energy level and ensure you get enough high-quality sleep every night. To schedule a consultation for daytime sleepiness, call the office in St. Petersburg, Florida, today or book a consultation online.
Daytime Sleepiness Q&A
What causes daytime sleepiness?
Excessive daytime sleepiness can be the result of several issues that affect the quality of your sleep. One of the most common causes of daytime sleepiness is obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes you to snore loudly and stop breathing periodically while you sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea develops when the muscles in your airway relax too much and obstruct your breathing. You may also be prone to obstructive sleep apnea if you have excess tissue in the back of your throat that covers your airway when you sleep.
The team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep can also diagnose other causes of daytime sleepiness, such as:
- Narcolepsy
- Sleep deprivation
- Sedative medications
- Underlying medical and psychiatric disorders
Without treatment, excessive daytime sleepiness can cause long-lasting consequences. Sleepiness can increase your risk for car accidents, work accidents, and other personal injuries.
If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep.
How is daytime sleepiness diagnosed?
To identify the underlying cause of your excessive daytime sleepiness, the team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep review your medical history, the list of medications you take, and your lifestyle. They also perform a physical exam and may order blood work or other lab tests.
The team also offers other diagnostic tools like a 14-day Actiwatch wearable wristwatch device that can identify the underlying cause of sleepiness by monitoring your vital signs. You may also need an in-home or in-lab sleep study that helps the team evaluate your sleep habits.
Based on the results of your testing, the team customizes a treatment plan to reduce your daytime sleepiness and help you improve your sleep quality.
How is daytime sleepiness treated?
Your custom treatment plan for daytime sleepiness may include medications that help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may benefit from using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP delivers a consistent supply of oxygen through a face mask that you wear while sleeping.
The team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep can also recommend lifestyle changes, such as unplugging electronics at least an hour before bed and keeping your bedroom dark and cool.
If you have underlying medical or psychiatric issues that interfere with your sleep, the team can refer you to a specialist for additional treatment.
To get help for daytime sleepiness, call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep to schedule a consultation today or book an appointment online.
