Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common sleep symptom that affects more than 20% of the United States population and is categorized by having difficulty staying awake during the day for at least three months. Some common causes include obstructive sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, and consumption of sedating medications.
Symptoms:
Quality of sleep can affect our ability to retain memories, restore our immune system, and other important processes. A person may be experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness if they experience any of the following symptoms:
- Trouble staying alert
- Trouble focusing
- Irritation
- Difficulty making decisions
- Slower reaction times
- Decreased productivity