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Suggest Ways To Rule Out Sleep Apnea

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Posted on Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Question: I'm having a hard time staying awake during the day hours even when I think I have had enough sleep ours during the night. I will suddenly will doze off and wake up startled and confused.
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (59 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Sleep apnea should be considered.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Daytime sleepiness can have several causes. One of the main causes to be considered is sleep apnea. It is a condition where there is excessive loss of muscle tone during sleep, with closure of airways and interrupted breathing. That causes frequent sleep disruptions during sleep, so that even if one seems to have got enough sleep hours that sleep is of bad quality hence feeling sleepy and tired during the day. It is more common in overweight people, people who snore at night. However it can occur even in normal weight people where the upper airways are narrower than usual. It is diagnosed by polysomnography, a test where electrical activity of the brain is recorded during sleep through some electrodes placed on the scalp.

Other causes include anemia, metabolic issues like kidney disease or hormonal alterations like low thyroid function. They can be easily excluded through some routine cheap blood tests.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3672 Questions

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Suggest Ways To Rule Out Sleep Apnea

Brief Answer: Sleep apnea should be considered. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Daytime sleepiness can have several causes. One of the main causes to be considered is sleep apnea. It is a condition where there is excessive loss of muscle tone during sleep, with closure of airways and interrupted breathing. That causes frequent sleep disruptions during sleep, so that even if one seems to have got enough sleep hours that sleep is of bad quality hence feeling sleepy and tired during the day. It is more common in overweight people, people who snore at night. However it can occur even in normal weight people where the upper airways are narrower than usual. It is diagnosed by polysomnography, a test where electrical activity of the brain is recorded during sleep through some electrodes placed on the scalp. Other causes include anemia, metabolic issues like kidney disease or hormonal alterations like low thyroid function. They can be easily excluded through some routine cheap blood tests. I remain at your disposal for other questions.