Increased drowsiness

Agree, the state, when you always want to lie down and sleep, which comes at the most inopportune time (lecture or family dinner) can significantly complicate our lives. Yes, and a constant sense of fatigue significantly reduces the quality of human life. Increased drowsiness is perceived by many as an indicator of an approaching weather change. But the reasons provoking such discomfort, in actual fact is much more.

[1], [2], [3]

Causes of increased drowsiness

To effectively deal with any problem, it is necessary to have an idea of the source that has become its catalyst. The causes of increased drowsiness are quite diverse, so only a qualified specialist can establish the correct source. But a lot depends on the person himself. There are a number of factors that anyone can take away from the list of possible causes. This will happen after the review of your day's schedule, the compliance of loads and rest time, as well as the balance of the diet.

So, what are the causes that can cause such a state of the body? There are so many of them that it is simply impossible to list everything in one article. After all, increased drowsiness is the first signal of the brain, which says that the cells of the central nervous system are being suppressed. Sources of this impact can be both external and internal.

To external it is possible to carry:

• Accommodation in an area with a complex ecological situation.
• Finding a long time in a room with limited access to it with fresh air (oxygen).
• Hypothermia - freezing, leading to a decrease in body temperature.
• Lack of sleep.
• High physical and emotional loads.
• Intensive mental activity.
• Frequent travel, business trips associated with the change of climatic and time zones.
• To cause drowsiness is also capable of taking certain pharmacological agents. In the instructions attached to them, drowsiness occurs as a side effect of the drug.
• Magnetic storms. Difficult climatic conditions.
• Poor nutrition. Newfangled diets and prolonged starvation.
• Lack of vitamins in the body of the patient.
• Poor-quality night sleep: insomnia, a small period of time, which was set aside for sleep.
• Abundant, dense and heavy food.
• Sedentary work.

Since this discomfortable symptomatology can be expressed by one of the symptoms of many diseases, it is very important to combine it with other pathological manifestations, the tandem of which allows an experienced specialist to more specifically assume the cause of drowsiness.

To internal it is possible to carry:

• Severe diffuse changes affecting the cages of the brain, disorders of the brain stem structures.
• Presence in the patient's anamnesis of craniocerebral injury, which leads to the formation of intracranial hematomas and swelling of the brain tissues.
• Intoxication of the body leading to hepatic or renal coma.
• Acute form of poisoning.
• One of the diseases of the cardiovascular system.
• In the period of toxicosis, which appeared in late pregnancy, pre-eclampsia may develop.
• Narcolepsy, a disease that has not yet been fully studied.
• Asthenic syndrome - severe nervous exhaustion.
• Hypoxia of brain cells. In this case, headache, dizziness is added.
• Pathological abnormalities in the functioning of the respiratory system.
• Problems with the blood.
• Klein-Levin Syndrome.
• Physicians separately distinguish such a disease as hypersomnia, in which the duration of sleep can be from 12 to 14 hours per day. This disease can be associated with diseases of a psychological nature: endogenous depression or schizophrenia.
• Vegetosovascular dystonia.
• Nervous exhaustion.
• Gyptonia.
• Reduced blood sugar in the patient's blood (hypoglycemia).
• On the contrary, high sugar content (hyperglycemia).
• Drowsiness can also provoke problems with the endocrine system: hypothyroidism, diabetes, overweight.
• The first trimester of pregnancy.
• The person has bad habits.
• Neoplasms of an oncologic and benign character. Conducting a course of chemotherapy.

[4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

What can talk about increased sleepiness?

Probably, it is impossible to find a person who never felt a condition when he starts to sleep. After all, this is a normal physiological state for all living organisms. Another question is if this fact is observed quite often and at inopportune time, when the human biological clock should show the waking period.

Therefore, it is worthwhile to get acquainted with the symptoms of increased drowsiness, and if they are felt during the day, then this problem should not be dismissed. After all, it is your body that gives a signal that everything is in order with him.

The symptomatology considered is as follows:

• A person can not concentrate on doing a particular job. The brain turns off, refusing to work.
• The eyes are closing.
• The level of efficiency decreases.
• There is a general lethargy. This condition is only aggravated throughout the day.
• In the brain, often, beats one thought: "I'm tired, so want to lie down and relax."
• After returning home after work, such a person has lost interest, whatever. He does not want to watch a favorite TV series or discuss a football match with friends.
• Came the weekend, you can soak in bed longer, but it does not help, the desire to sleep still does not pass. There is a need to spend in bed all day.

If such a symptomatology persists a person for a long time, it is necessary to take a closer look at your day regimen and diet, analyze them. Perhaps, it will be enough to spend more time outdoors, to increase the duration of rest time and the problem will be solved. Otherwise, without consulting a specialist here is indispensable.

Increased fatigue and drowsiness

If the patient for a long time pursues increased fatigue and drowsiness, in most cases this tandem symptomatology indicates a nervous exhaustion of the patient's body, the so-called cerebral or neurasthenia.

The morphological basis of these pathological manifestations is quite likely to be violations of both organic and functional nature that affect the cells of the central nervous system.

These two symptoms may be accompanied by other abnormalities:

• Tearfulness. The human body shows emotional instability.
• Increased irritability.
• Memory impairment.
• Decreased efficiency.
• Decreased general tone.
• And many others.

Against the backdrop of nervous exhaustion, the protective forces of the organism decrease, which is invariably attempted by the pathogenic flora, as well as the aggravation of diseases already present in a person's anamnesis.

In such a situation, you need to seek help from a qualified doctor who will help you determine the source of the pathology. After all, only eliminating the cause, we can talk about an effective solution to the problem.

Drowsiness and increased appetite

As shown by medical statistics, 19% of women preparing to become mothers in the first weeks of pregnancy have drowsiness and increased appetite, which is physiologically acceptable. The woman's organism is undergoing substantial restructuring, adapting to its new status. In this situation, you should not worry, but it's also not worth the trouble of your body. Extra pounds can only add problems in the course of pregnancy.

In this situation, you should consult an obstetrician - a gynecologist who leads a pregnancy. He will give the necessary recommendations that will make it easier to survive this period of time.

If the symptomatology concerned affects a man or woman who does not have the status of a pregnant woman, the doctor's consultation also does not put it. After all, this combination of symptoms may also indicate deep-seated problems with health, which only a specialist can recognize.

[13], [14], [15]

Increased daytime sleepiness

Enough many modern people begin to feel increased drowsiness during the day. Especially this factor often arises after a rather plentiful lunch, when, after eating, begins to tend to sleep, while working capacity begins to sharply tends to zero.

What to do in this situation? First of all, it is necessary to establish what caused increased drowsiness during the day, and, if possible, eliminate this source.

Primarily it is necessary to eliminate those factors that a person can correct himself.

• If he has a sedentary job, it will not be superfluous to periodically determine a goal that would allow him to get up from the workplace and move a little. If possible, it is worth making a number of invigorating physical exercises.
• Revise your diet. Minimize the consumption of fast food, flour products and other "harmful food". It is the quality of food that is the main catalyst for drowsiness after lunch.
• It is also worth watching your weight. Excess kilograms add loads to the human body, quickly depleting its strength, leading to fatigue and a desire to relax, replenish its energy and internal reserves.
• To cause daytime drowsiness may be a lack of oxygen in a room where people are for a long time. Therefore, periodic airing should not be neglected, even if there is twenty degrees below zero on the street.

To understand how deep the problem is, it is necessary for yourself, to answer a number of questions and evaluate the results of testing.

Answering the questions, it is necessary to determine the answer, which will bring to the total amount a certain number of points:

Not once - 0 points; very rarely - 1 point; a moderate number of times - 2 points; quite often - 3 points.

And now for yourself try to answer such questions:

• Are you able to fall asleep while sitting on a sofa or armchair, for example, watching a television program.
• Reading a periodical or a book.
• Have there been any attacks of drowsiness when a person was in a public place: at a lecture at the university, at a movie theater, during a meeting or at a meeting with the head.
• As far as a person can turn off, falling asleep on a long trip, for example, in a car (more than an hour) or a bus. Naturally, this question applies to passengers, not the driver of vehicles.
• Are you able to fall asleep quickly if you lay down on a horizontal surface after a dense dinner or dinner.
• Were there cases when a person fell asleep right in the midst of a conversation with his interlocutor.
• If there is a quiet and calm environment around, it is possible to fall asleep at lunch time (alcoholic drinks were not accepted).
• Does the need to fall asleep in the daytime, if a person is behind the wheel in anticipation of a passenger or standing in a traffic jam.

Having made a score, you can independently assess how acute the problem is, which is expressed by increased drowsiness.

• If the total score exceeds 20 points, we can talk about a rather serious problem with daytime sleep, which was the result of the depletion of the central nervous system. In this case, it is unlikely to be able to cope with the situation on its own. The result will be better if you seek help from a doctor. This can help a doctor - a therapist, an endocrinologist or a neurologist.
• If the results of counting fall within the limit of 15 to 20 points, one should not calm down. It is advisable to pass the examination and enlist the support of a doctor - a neurologist or somnologist.
• The test scores indicate a figure less than 15 points, speak from the moderate stage of the problem with daytime sleep. This result may indicate a systematic lack of sleep of the patient, as well as too high physical, psychological or emotional stress on the body of the tested. In such a situation, it may be sufficient to revise your daily routine, a balanced alternation of loads and rest, so that the problem can be solved.

Increased drowsiness in the child

Our children are just the same people, only little ones. And they may be affected by the same health problems as adults, with the rare exception of sources provoking them. We will try to understand, why there is an increased drowsiness in the child and how can a child help in the situation that has arisen?

First of all, you should more carefully analyze the regime of the baby's day. At each specific age, children should spend in bed a certain amount of time. After all, the body of the child is not yet fully formed and has not yet those vital forces that an adult organism possesses. The nervous system of the child is also not perfect.

The causes of drowsiness in children, and related to their lifestyle, can be called:

• Lack of sleep of the baby. As studies show, children under the age of twelve must sleep at night for at least 9 to 10 hours. If this fact is not met, fatigue gradually accumulates, the baby begins to be capricious, feeling broken. The memory and concentration of attention also worsen, the kids become distracted.
• A similar result can be obtained with excessive mental stress, for example, high school loads and numerous homework assignments that take the lion's share of home time, limiting the rest time.
• Increased physical activity. Excessive passion for sports or heavy household chores.
• Irrational diet: a passion for fast food, a diet poor in vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
• A way of life that does not involve an active motor rhythm.
• Overweight. Unfortunately, this problem of modern society has significantly affected the children's population of the planet. In general, this applies, as it is not strange, to highly developed countries.
• Sometimes this symptomatology may appear as a result of a prolonged illness, when the organism of the child is exhausted by the struggle with the disease and tries to regain the lost strength. In the children's case, most often such diseases are infectious pathologies: angina, viral infections, influenza, mononucleosis, allergies and others.
• Just cause drowsiness is capable of a low level of hemoglobin in the blood of a small patient.
• It is not unfortunate, but the baby can be found and low blood pressure.
• Dysfunction in the thyroid gland.
• Renal dysfunction.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Congenital heart defect.

In adolescence, in addition to the above reasons, there may be added causes of asthenic-neurotic character.

• It's a fear of getting a bad evaluation.
• Fear of school problems, including the relationship with peers and teachers.
• Anxiety before a responsible exam.
• Depressive state from unrequited first love, or divorce of parents.
• Other similar reasons.

It is worth particularly to show your attention if drowsiness is observed in infants, especially if the labor was difficult. The cause of childhood drowsiness may be medications, which were given to the mother in the process of delivery, incorrect introduction of complementary foods or improper application to the breast.

Young parents should alert such a symptomatology in a newborn:

• The child's cry, noticeably, is weakening.
• The skin of the fontanel on the head of the newborn is slightly sunken.
• The mucous baby is not wet enough.
• If you pinch the baby's skin lightly, it does not straighten out for a long time.
• Temperature indicators of the body show increased figures.
• The baby pisses very little, that is, the main signs of dehydration and intoxication of the body are observed.

Against this background, the baby is overcome by drowsiness and weakness. To establish the cause of this condition, you should immediately seek advice from a pediatrician and undergo a complete examination.

Increased drowsiness in the elderly

Often, increased drowsiness in the elderly is puzzling and an excuse for making fun of the young. But especially no one thinks about what causes such a picture?

The procedure of sleep is a necessary, thought-out process, against which the living organism accumulates the forces expended during the waking period. It is he who protects the body from excessive loads (both physical and emotional). Especially in rest our brain needs. Predominantly in a dream the body not only recovers, but also struggles with diseases as much as possible. It is for this reason that the patient is assigned a bed rest, and even the body, in need of help, displays sleepiness and makes a person go to bed and rest.

In elderly people, this problem is particularly acute. An aged person may want to sleep almost every minute, constantly "kicking his nose," which brings a lot of unpleasant moments into their lives.

If such attacks occur in a person for 60 periodically, then he should pay more careful attention to his daily routine and nutrition, as well as listening to the body's signals, try to analyze and identify the cause. After finding it, it will be sufficient to eliminate it to get rid of or at least partially reduce the intensity of drowsiness.

• Sometimes others can observe the fact that elderly people go to bed early enough, but wake up in the middle of the night and can not fall asleep again for a very long time. Such a night in the morning does not bring rest. The person gets up "broken" and tired. One can also observe the involuntary transformation of "former owls" into "larks", which rise early, from 5 to 7 in the morning they are already on their feet. Constant lack of sleep does not add to old people's health, but their nervous system, immune status, and the general condition of the body suffer significantly. It is this factor that provokes the organism to "ask" its master to sleep again, catching every convenient minute.
• On the state of the body, including causing drowsiness, and emotional balance of the old people. After all, they are worried about their children and grandchildren, already a middle-aged husband, for their health, which does not allow them to do what was easily accessible before and so on. They can not sleep for a long time trying to solve this or that problem, often spending all or part of the night without sleep.
• Sleepiness can lead to food. Exchange processes of the body begin to slow down over time, problems arise with the composition of blood: low hemoglobin, the level of sugar and other components in the blood. Old people need a full-fledged diet rich in vitamins, and easy to process. Modern pensions do not give such an opportunity. A pensioner is not able to buy enough meat, vegetables and fruits on his own, without the support of his relatives. Lack of nutrients necessary for the full functioning of the body, causes rapid fatigue and the desire to lie down, saving energy.
• But to cause drowsiness, and the opposite problem - excessive consumption of food, extra pounds and obesity, which "pulls" a lot of pathological diseases.

All household members need to pay more attention to their elderly relatives. They deserve it!

At the same time, one should not sit with folded arms, but it is necessary to try, if possible, to remove the causes-catalysts of the problem and to adjust the sleep of the old people.

• It is necessary to limit their physical activity, but not to limit their motor activity. Movement is life. More movement - a stronger sleep, and, consequently, higher overall tone of the body.
• Old people have enough time to be in the open air. Slow walking before going to bed and airing the room (sleeping with an open window) significantly improve the situation with falling asleep and sleeping.
• Follow the diet. It must be full. Do not overeat or starve. The last meal should be no later than an hour or two before the planned bedtime.
• Do not drink a lot of liquid just before you go to bed. This is fraught with swelling and the need to spend time in the toilet, and not in bed.
• Try to work out a regime when an elderly person can lie down to rest in the daytime.
• Before going to bed, you can try a little peppermint tea, warm milk or honeyed water.
• If health allows, you can take a bath with sea salt or infusion of soothing herbs before going to bed.
• Remove bad habits: smoking and alcohol only upset the nervous system, exacerbating the negative situation.
• It is desirable to remove or reduce the consumption of coffee and coffee drinks, strong tea.
• The cause of drowsiness can be a deficit of sun rays. In the cold season, their lack can be compensated by a fluorescent lamp (incandescent lamp does not fit).

But if the feeling of sleeping practically does not pass and is not connected with the problems mentioned above, one of the numerous diseases can become the cause of the uncomfortable situation. But in this case, do without the doctor will not work. A thorough examination of the body of an old man and the adoption of adequate means and techniques to cure the problem are necessary. In establishing the diagnosis, polysomnography can help - a functional diagnostic technique that allows you to get the basic characteristics of the human brain during night's sleep.

Increased drowsiness in pregnancy

Conception, pregnancy and the birth of a child are the most important omen of a woman. During this period the organism of the future mother undergoes many different kinds of physiological transformations, adapting to its new status. This restructuring, often accompanied by some, not always pleasant, deviations from the normal state. Quite often there is also increased drowsiness in pregnancy, which can be called the norm of this condition.

Usually such a symptom occurs in a pregnant woman even in the early stages of bearing a baby. The need for sleep, that is, in additional forces and energy, arises as a protective reaction of the female body to more intense stresses, which now have to be experienced by the body. Indeed, in this period, he experiences a double load, so a full rest he does not hurt.

Also during sleep, the woman's nervous system is protected and rest, which is important in her position, as she, in fact, is in a constant stressful state. Lack of sleep and inadequate rest, in this period, can lead to a heavy pregnancy, a poor condition of the pregnant woman, and a deviation in the norm of embryo development.

What specifically causes the symptomatology? Increased fatigue and drowsiness of the pregnant woman is caused by a high level of progesterone - the hormonal component of the female body, which is responsible for the preservation and normal course of pregnancy. Its excessive amount relaxes the smooth muscles, soothingly acts on the receptors of the central nervous system, which leads to drowsiness, partial apathy and the desire to lie down and rest.

Having dealt with this, you can give only one piece of advice. If the body of a pregnant woman requires sleep, "refuse" to him in this should not be. It is necessary to extend the night's sleep, and if necessary, enter and day.

If the increased desire to sleep pursues the pregnant woman and during the second trimester of pregnancy, then such a symptom can not always be perceived as the norm. Perhaps the body of a woman who is carrying a baby is burdened by anemia - a condition that develops against the background of a low content of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood.

If this symptomatology is accompanied by nausea, pain in the head, vision problems, then the situation becomes even more problematic, since it can talk about the development of gestosis in the body of a future mother. This is quite a dangerous disease that occurs in a pregnant woman in later periods. It is expressed by a mismatch in the work of virtually all vital organs, especially the vascular system and blood flow. Such a clinical picture is a threat both to the life of the unborn baby and to the woman herself.

If such a symptom occurs, you should immediately notify your obstetrician - gynecologist, who observes the course of pregnancy.

In the normal course of gestation, drowsiness should disappear in the second trimester of pregnancy, and the woman's well-being should improve. But immediately before childbirth (in recent weeks) drowsiness can return. At this stage of pregnancy, this symptom is associated with a deterioration in the quality of sleep, which is due to the fact that the fetus already has significant weight, while it shows high activity, which increases the burden on the mother's spine, causing pain.

If a pregnant woman has a persistent sleep disorder, it can not hurt her to seek counseling for a somnologist. It is especially difficult for working women who do not have the opportunity to lie down and sleep in the middle of the working day. It is not recommended to use coffee or strong tea, other energetics to cheer up. In this situation, experts recommend doing periodic breaks in work and regular airing the room. Do not interfere with light warm-up gymnastics and outdoor walks.

What to do with increased sleepiness?

Before answering the question of what to do with increased drowsiness, it is necessary to understand and correctly assess the cause leading to the depletion of the nervous system. Only after this can you answer the question and take adequate measures.

If neurasthenia leads to such a clinical picture, the attending physician usually prescribes medicines that activate the course of the blood flow in the vessels and capillaries, improve the nutrition of the brain cells, increase the energy balance of the brain structures. Preparations of this group carry out general strengthening measures. The doctor can prescribe one of these drugs: nootropil, luccetam, pyramid, cavinton, memotropil, cerebral, nootibril, pyrophoric, escotropic, stamine, noocetam, pyracetam, pyraben.

The cyclic derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid, the drug nootropil is administered by ingestion and parenterally in a daily dosage calculated at 0.03-0.16 g per kilogram of the patient's weight.

Parenteral, that is, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, is prescribed in a situation where oral administration is impossible. The dosage of the drug in this form of administration corresponds to the amount recommended above. The drug is taken with a sufficient amount of liquid. The number of daily inputs is from two to four.

Children this dosage is obtained at the rate of 3.3 g daily, divided into two doses or 4 ml 20% solution twice a day. The duration of the drug course is assigned exclusively by the attending doctor.

Contraindication to the appointment of nootropil may be an individual intolerance of the medicinal components of the patient's body. And also in case of hemorrhagic stroke (acute form of cerebral circulation disturbance), terminal stage of kidney dysfunction, age of small patients up to one year (with parenteral administration of the solution) and up to three years (taking the drug in tablets and capsules).

In other cases, it is sufficient to adhere to the elementary rules of prevention, so that drowsiness does not overtake a person at the most inopportune moment.

• It is necessary to monitor your diet. Food should be energetic, but not heavy. Dishes should be balanced by protein, carbohydrates and fats, as well as rich in vitamins and trace elements.
• Do not overeat.
• Do not allow the appearance of excess weight.
• The last meal before going to bed at night must be at least two hours before bedtime.
• Sufficient time should be spent outdoors. Regularly ventilate the working area and living rooms. Ideally, a person should sleep with an open window.
• Exclude hypodynamia from your life. If a person has a sedentary job, as often as possible, get up and move as often as possible, after several light warm-up movements.
• A full night's sleep is needed.
• After awakening, it would not hurt to introduce a complex of exercises into the habit and receive a contrast shower.
• Adopt a rule, two or three times a year to undergo a complex intake of vitamins and minerals, or adaptogenes of plant origin. For example, Chinese magnolia vine or eleutherococcus.
• If you have a history of human pathological diseases (affecting the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, endocrine system), you should regularly undergo maintenance therapy or in time to stop the disease.
• Get rid of all your bad habits. It is advisable that no one from family members smoke nearby.
• It is desirable to bring to the norm physical loads, the intensity of which should alternate with the rest time.
• It is necessary to temper the body.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Keep your immune status at a high enough level.
• It is not superfluous to find a passion for your soul: yoga, fitness, dancing, morning jogging, special breathing exercises and so on.

If drowsiness is found at a wrong time, you can use some techniques that will quickly cheer up.

• A cup of sweet strong tea or coffee.
• Walk in the fresh air.
• Acupuncture massage of certain points on the body. For example, stretch the point at the base of the mating of the thumb and forefinger. Another point, called zhen-zhong, is located on the upper lip, directly in the central cavity (under the nose), as well as almost the entire surface of the ear shells. Active massaging is necessary for one to two minutes.

But these are only temporary measures. The constant intake of coffee and other stimulants adversely affects the human body, so do not use them. In the future, it will not be superfluous to undergo a survey and consult with an expert.

If the cause of drowsiness is reduced atmospheric pressure, cloudy weather, rain, you can try to distract yourself with an interesting activity, cognitive book or exercise, dancing.

The source of drowsiness - magnetic storms, you need to temper your body, practicing walking in nature, or drink a cup of strong coffee (if the human body allows it).

In case of a bad ecological situation in the area of permanent residence, you can advise you to act radically and change your place of residence by picking up a cleaner area. If this option is not suitable, then you can advise to install in the living room air purification device (air conditioner with a similar function), it is also necessary to seal the window openings more carefully.

If the cause of the symptom in question lies in the failure of the hormonal background, it should be examined. After receiving the results of the study, the doctor, based on the diagnosis, can prescribe adequate hormone therapy.

Source of drowsiness - vegetative dystonia - immediately to the doctor. This disease can be a symptom of a more serious illness, therefore, it is better to be safe and pass the examination than to lose valuable time and then fight with a more serious illness.

Almost all residents of modern megacities and large cities are subject to chronic fatigue syndrome. To reduce the severity of the syndrome, it is worth spending more time on the weekend, learning to avoid daily stresses and so on. If necessary, seek the assistance of a qualified technician.

Life is Beautiful. But if it is overshadowed by increased drowsiness, then this must be fought. If you want to sleep during the day, but the reason is known - the party that lasted the night before, then there is no reason to worry. But if this symptomatology is manifested with a noticeable regularity - it is necessary to establish its cause. Quite possibly it will be enough just to correct your daily routine, diet and the problem will be safely resolved. But if the cause in the disease, which has become a catalyst for drowsiness, then the faster it is diagnosed, the less effort it will take to cure it. In this case, the organism will be harmed to a minimum.