Drowsiness Causes

When feeling drowsy, a person has a strong desire to sleep, even in waking hours. It is also known as Somnolence or Hypersomnia. Drowsiness is extreme sleepiness at the inappropriate times and places. It is one of the most common condition experienced by people all around the world.

What Causes Drowsiness

Sleep Disorders
People suffering from sleep disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia are bound to suffer from sleepiness the whole day long due to lack of sleep the previous night. On the other hand, self-induced less sleep is another common cause of drowsiness among teenagers, students and workaholics.

Stress
Stress and anxiety top the list in causing drowsiness. The fast paced and changing modern-day lifestyle leads to stress among people of all age groups. Finance, relationships, job, career, etc., are the common issues leading to stress. Secondly, a depressive disorder or clinical depression, caused due to diverse factors, also leads to lack of activity and the constant urge to sleep.

Illnesses and Medications
Drowsiness causes also include viral infections like common cold and flu, fever, brain infections, encephalitis, head and brain injury, anemia, kidney disease, and allergies. On the other hand, side effects of certain medications like antihistamines, pain relievers and antidepressant also cause sleepiness.

Lifestyle
As mentioned above, stress has become one of the major parts of people's life which leads to insomnia, other sleep disorders, and consequently makes a person drowsy all day long. On the other hand, working or doing a physical activity for a long time, doing excess mental activity like studying, leads to fatigue and drowsiness. Secondly, it can also occur as a side effect of alcoholism. Consumption of excess alcohol slackens a person's activity and makes him lethargic and sleepy. Similarly, boredom and jet lag are some of the other common causes.

Drowsiness Treatment

It is essential to identify the causes before looking for any potential treatment. Drowsiness caused due to stress, fatigue, work pressure, etc., can be treated by following simple relaxation and stress management techniques. If it is caused due to certain illnesses or medications, one should bring this to the notice of the doctor and get the illnesses treated and the medications changed. Sleep disorders can also be treated with the help of prescription medications and self-help techniques. On the other hand, it is essential to bring changes in lifestyle if one experiences drowsiness frequently. One should read, work, study for limited hours and take rest after regular intervals. Alcohol consumption should be reduced as it also has a negative effect on other parts of the body.

As a concluding note, it should be remembered that if one experiences drowsiness due to none of the above mentioned causes, it is advisable to consult the doctor for proper medical diagnosis and treatment. Take care!