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Why Am I So Sleepy During the Day?

Why Am I So Sleepy During the Day?

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

If you feel exhausted or have little energy during the day, you’re not alone. Fatigue can be caused by a variety of reasons, including lack of sleep, too much caffeine, or even catching a cold. It can also be caused by underlying medical issues such as mouth breathing and sleep apnea.

Even though everyone gets tired from time to time, constant fatigue can have a negative impact on your quality of life and prevent you from doing things you enjoy.

In most circumstances, fatigue can be alleviated by making changes to your lifestyle, changing your diet, or treating an underlying medical problem. If you wake up sleepy and feel sluggish throughout the day, you may need to make some minor changes to your lifestyle. In this blog, we will be discussing the changes you can make to improve your sleep.

 

Not Getting Enough Sleep?

Getting adequate sleep is important for good health. However, many of us don’t get enough, which can lead to fatigue. During sleep, your body undergoes a number of processes, such as the release of vital growth harmony and the repair and regeneration of cells. With a good night’s sleep, most people feel refreshed, alert, and rejuvenated.

Sleep should be peaceful and undisturbed in order for your brain to go through three stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and one stage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the dream state. Even though you know the significance of getting adequate sleep, falling and staying asleep might be difficult.

Insomnia refers to the condition that makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Menopause, medical disorder, psychological stress, poor sleep schedule, and excessive cerebral stimulation can all contribute to insomnia.

If you suffer from insomnia, treatments such as natural supplements, medicines, and management of underlying medical issues may be beneficial.

Stress

While some stress is normal, constant stress can be associated with fatigue. Constant stress can result in stress-related exhaustion disorder, a medical condition that results in physical tiredness. Furthermore, prolonged stress can produce structural and functional changes in the brain, as well as chronic inflammation, which can contribute to symptoms such as tiredness.

While you may be unable to avoid stressful events, regulating your stress may help you prevent fatigue. For example, schedule a time to unwind by taking a bath, meditating, or going for a walk. Visiting a therapist is another great way to reduce stress.

Consuming Too Much Caffeine

Although caffeinated beverages such as coffee and energy drinks provide a boost of energy, excessive dependence on caffeinated drinks may cause you to feel tired the following day. This is because too much caffeine can interfere with sleep, which can lead to fatigue. People who are exhausted in the morning tend to consume a lot of caffeine, which disrupts their sleep patterns.

As a result, you may overuse caffeine for energy and disrupt your cycle of sleep. Drinking too much caffeine can also increase nightly concerns such as sleeplessness, nighttime worrying, lower sleep time, and daily drowsiness. If you have trouble sleeping and frequently consume caffeinated beverages, consider cutting back to see if it improves your sleep and energy levels.

Consider Whether You Have a Sleep Disorder

If you sleep for 7 to 9 hours a night and still wake up fatigued and sleepy during the day, you may have a sleep disorder that you should discuss with your doctor. Meanwhile, you should be more aware of your breathing pattern while sleeping because breathing through your mouth may lead to sleep deprivation.

Mouth breathing can cause snoring during sleeping and, in some cases, sleep apnea. If you wake up snoring and jolting, this could be an indicator of sleep apnea. Snoring can be reduced by preventing mouth breathing while sleeping, and if you sleep for 7 to 9 hours, you should wake up feeling completely refreshed with no afternoon sleepiness.

Correct My Tongue Thrust

If you suspect mouth breathing and tongue thrust is affecting your sleep, IJustWantTo® Correct My Tongue Thrust has a program for you. Our seven-lesson program will teach you how to educate your tongue to "live" on the roof of your mouth rather than falling and blocking your airway. This program will help you in breaking the habit of mouth breathing, which is a known cause of the majority of sleep disorders.

If you would like to know more information about our simple program and how it has helped many people sleep better, contact us. We’ll be pleased to answer your questions so you can start fighting fatigue and living life to the fullest. For more information, visit our website or contact us.

Janet M. Bennett

Written by:

Janet Bennett, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is a Speech Pathologist in private practice in Asheville, NC, since 1977. She specializes in treating tongue thrust, a swallowing disorder that can result in buckteeth, an open bite, a lisp, snoring, and other problems that have not yet been made known to most people.