Have no get up and go no matter how much you sleep? You may have one of these conditions.
Feel like you’re dragging through the day even after what you think is a good night’s sleep? Do you take a nap as often as you did when you were a toddler? Occasional daytime sleepiness is a common occurrence, but when you find your fatigue getting in the way of everyday life, it’s time to get to the bottom of what’s going on.
The most obvious reason for feeling tired during the day is not getting enough sleep at night. Other reasons for daytime fatigue may be related to your diet, a lack of physical activity or being overweight. Medication side effects can cause you to feel tired—so can stress or depression.
Other causes of your unrelenting sleepiness may be related to the following health conditions or other serious medical conditions. If you find that you often feel tired, talk to your doctor about it.
Sleep Apnea
If you regularly feel tired after a full night’s sleep, you may have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. This is a potentially serious condition in which your breathing repeatedly stops while you sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, heart failure and diabetes, as well as other serious health conditions.
It is estimated that about 1 in 15 adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, but approximately 80% of them are undiagnosed. Signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, morning headache, waking up with a dry mouth, irritability, difficulty concentrating and excessive daytime sleepiness. If these symptoms sound familiar, talk to your doctor who may order a sleep study to check for this disorder. Treatment for sleep apnea typically involves using a CPAP machine or wearing an oral device to keep your upper airway open while you sleep.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Although there is no test that can specifically identify chronic fatigue syndrome, it may be diagnosed by ruling out other health problems that cause you to regularly feel excessively tired over a long period of time (at least six months). It is not known why this occurs and there is no cure. Treatment primarily involves finding ways to live with the condition and providing symptom relief.
Fibromyalgia
Not only do people with fibromyalgia experience extreme fatigue, but they may also have widespread musculoskeletal pain, as well as issues with memory and mood. The symptoms may appear after a specific event or they may develop gradually. There is no cure for the condition and treatment is focused on controlling symptoms through medication, relaxation, physical activity and stress reduction.
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Date Last Reviewed: November 2, 2021
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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