Sleepiness is a serious health concern with wide-reaching consequences that can impact individuals and society every day. According to a new position paper by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, excessive daytime sleepiness can be a sign of a potentially dangerous sleep deficit that can put people in physical danger and harm their long-term health.

The paper, supported by 25 different medical organizations, highlights the importance of identifying interventions that recognize, assess, and treat excessive daytime sleepiness.

• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines sleepiness as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) when an individual experiences excessive daytime sleepiness that interferes with daily life and activities.
• EDS is characterized by an excessive need for sleep, sleepiness during the day, and difficulty staying awake during usual activities.

Not getting a quality night’s rest of at least seven to eight hours has been linked to the development or worsening of diabetes, depression, heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and stroke.

“With one-third of U.S. adults reporting they experience excessive sleepiness, the importance of identifying interventions that recognize, assess, and treat it cannot be understated,” said Dr. Eric Olson, AASM President and pulmonologist.

“From drowsy driving crashes to workplace errors and long-term health risks, the effects of excessive daytime sleepiness impact individuals and society every day,” Dr. Olson added.

• Signs of sleepiness include dozing off during a work meeting, yawning, or feeling tired during the day.
• Ignoring these signs can lead to serious consequences, including drowsy driving crashes, workplace errors, and long-term health risks.

“Nodding off in boring meetings is an indication of insufficient sleep,” said sleep specialist Kristen Knutson. “Someone who is fully rested will not fall asleep in meetings, no matter how boring the meeting is.”

“Excessive daytime sleepiness can impair performance and be an indicator of underlying sleep disorders or other issues,” Dr. Knutson added.

• Microsleeps: brief two-second, three-second, or 10-second naps can occur, which can be very dangerous if you’re driving or doing something that involves safety.
• Reckless and impulsive behavior can also be a symptom of excessive daytime sleepiness.

“The body does odd things when it’s continuously sleepy, including overcoming those yawns and sending signals that you are, in fact, coping with the lack of sleep,” said Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatua, AASM board member and sleep medicine specialist.

“However, those signals couldn’t be further from the truth, as data shows that with chronic partial sleep deprivation the ability to perceive our own level of impairment is no longer accurate — we think we’re OK when we’re really not,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“When we do actual tests to measure how well your brain is functioning — reaction time, the ability to recall, memory tests, coordination — we find people are actually making a lot of mistakes,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua added.

“And it’s scary because they still have this inappropriately high level of confidence that they are OK,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a test used to measure sleepiness,” said Dr. Gurubhagavatua. “It includes eight sedentary situations, and patients rate from zero to three how likely they are to fall asleep during these situations.”

“The maximum score is 24, which indicates that you’re very, very sleepy. We generally consider scores above 10 to be clinically significant and worth intervention,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

Other causes of sleepiness include sleep disorders, chronic pain conditions, medications, and lifestyle behaviors such as excessive caffeine, alcohol use, and poor sleep hygiene.

“You can also ask your pharmacist about your prescriptions, and you should also consider any over-the-counter medications,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“Certain lifestyle behaviors can contribute to chronic sleepiness, such as too much caffeine, alcohol use before bed, using marijuana, and practicing poor sleep hygiene,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“Many people turn to alcohol or marijuana in the mistaken belief that it can improve sleep,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“However, these substances can actually worsen sleep quality and lead to dependence,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“It’s essential to prioritize sleep and establish good sleep habits to maintain overall health and well-being,” Dr. Gurubhagavatua said.

“Sleepiness is a serious health concern that should not be ignored. It’s essential to recognize the signs of sleepiness and seek medical attention if necessary. By prioritizing sleep and making lifestyle changes, individuals can reduce their risk of chronic sleepiness and related health problems.”
— Dr.