What Causes Excessive Sleep During Daytime?

Posted on Fri, 26 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 Answered on

Thu, 12 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I get very sleepy in the afternoon. Sometimes I have to leave work early and go straight to bed.It could be old age (82) or pneumonia or something else.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (-5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Thyroid

Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your excessive sleepiness.

An under-active thyroid can result in such symptoms.

When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:

CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
Calcium
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your 3 month glucose average)
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH
25 hydroxy Vitamin D

A condition called Sleep apnea can also result in similar symptoms. You will need to undergo a sleep study test to confirm this

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar