Expert Warning Against Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Neurology Specialist Uz. Dr. Demet Aslan pointed out that excessive sleepiness (hypersomnia) that occurs suddenly during the day can significantly negatively affect people's quality of life and safety.

He states that the underlying causes of sudden sleep crises at work, while driving or during a conversation should be carefully examined. Dr. Lion; He stated that people who constantly yawn during the day and feel lack of energy should definitely consult a specialist.

"SLEEP APNEA IS THE MOST COMMON MEDICAL CAUSE OF DAYTIME INsomnia"

Emphasizing that the most common medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness is sleep apnea. Dr. Demet Aslan noted that patients could not go into deep and restorative sleep due to the breathing pauses they experienced throughout the night.

Detailing the main factors that cause daytime sleepiness, Aslan gave the following information:

"You think you sleep all night, but because your brain cannot fully rest, you feel tired and suffer from insomnia during the day. Apart from this, narcolepsy is a neurological disease in which the brain cannot control the sleep-wake cycle. The person may experience sudden 'sleep attacks' even at the most inappropriate moments (eating, talking). 'Restless Legs Syndrome' and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMD) also cause your legs to move involuntarily throughout the night, causing sleeplessness. As a result, it is inevitable to encounter a disrupted night's sleep and a tired day."

BLUE LIGHT AND DRUG SIDE EFFECTS DISTURB THE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK

It was pointed out that shift work, irregular sleeping hours and intense blue light emitted from the phone and television before going to bed disrupt the body's biological clock.

On the other hand, it was stated that some blood pressure medications, antidepressants, allergy medications (antihistamines) and vitamin D and B12 deficiencies can cause chronic daytime sleepiness and dizziness.

"THE SLEEP LABORATORY SHOULD BE CONSULTED FOR A DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS"

Specialist emphasized the importance of examinations to be performed in the sleep laboratory for the definitive diagnosis of daytime sleepiness. Dr. Demet Aslan continued her warnings with the following words:

"Especially if you are at risk of falling asleep while driving or working and have difficulty standing up during the day despite sleeping at least 7-8 hours every day, we recommend that you go to the Sleep Laboratory. Polysomnography (night sleep test) and MSLT (multiple sleep latency test) are usually performed as two basic tests to determine the exact cause of daytime sleepiness. In polysomnography, the sleep structure of the person throughout the night is examined, while in MSLT performed during the day, how long it takes the person to fall asleep and what happens to the REM phase. "It is measured how fast it passes."