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What Causes Fatigue And Daytime Sleepiness While Having COPD?
Question: I am having trouble staying awake when I drive, sit and watch TV, or other things where my eyes are on a fixed spot. I had a left Mastectomy in 2009 and my left kidney was full of cancer in 2011. I also have severe COPD and had a triple by-pass in 2002. My eyes have also had several surgeries. My medication hasn't changed.
What do you think would be causing this. I'm 65 and wondering if it's the lack of oxygen.
What do you think would be causing this. I'm 65 and wondering if it's the lack of oxygen.
Brief Answer:
Possible.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is well possible that the symptoms you describe are related to the severe COPD you suffer from. Studies have shown COPD to be related both to fatigue as well as daytime sleepiness. That is true even in cases where there is no sleep apnea, it has been shown that the sleep quality in COPD patients is poorer due to lower blood oxygen saturation, as well as possible changes in sleep pattern and duration. So even when there are not enough awakenings to be qualified as sleep apnea there are still sleep changes. That results in daytime sleepiness.
Furthermore COPD has also been linked to cognitive changes such as attention and memory issues. Such attention issues may also be a contributor. They are not only related to the oxygen levels but also to the general inflammatory state COPD patients are in.
Of course that doesn’t mean other causes shouldn’t be considered as well, if you haven’t had any recent testing, you should have some routine blood tests such as blood count, liver and kidney function, thyroid function as conditions like anemia, metabolic changes, low thyroid function may also produce excessive sleepiness.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Possible.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is well possible that the symptoms you describe are related to the severe COPD you suffer from. Studies have shown COPD to be related both to fatigue as well as daytime sleepiness. That is true even in cases where there is no sleep apnea, it has been shown that the sleep quality in COPD patients is poorer due to lower blood oxygen saturation, as well as possible changes in sleep pattern and duration. So even when there are not enough awakenings to be qualified as sleep apnea there are still sleep changes. That results in daytime sleepiness.
Furthermore COPD has also been linked to cognitive changes such as attention and memory issues. Such attention issues may also be a contributor. They are not only related to the oxygen levels but also to the general inflammatory state COPD patients are in.
Of course that doesn’t mean other causes shouldn’t be considered as well, if you haven’t had any recent testing, you should have some routine blood tests such as blood count, liver and kidney function, thyroid function as conditions like anemia, metabolic changes, low thyroid function may also produce excessive sleepiness.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I only had the sleep apnea test. I don't have it however. I have also had congestive heart failure 3 times and I am on oxygen at night. I don't know if this makes a difference in your answer, but thought that I should clear up the sleep apnea part.
Thank you
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you, I already understood that part though (in sleep apnea you wake up much more often then every 2 hours) that is why I said even in the absence of sleep apnea.
My opinion remains the same though, having congestive heart failure only reinforces that, they are all factors that predispose to fatigue, lesser quality sleep and slowing of cognitive functions.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you, I already understood that part though (in sleep apnea you wake up much more often then every 2 hours) that is why I said even in the absence of sleep apnea.
My opinion remains the same though, having congestive heart failure only reinforces that, they are all factors that predispose to fatigue, lesser quality sleep and slowing of cognitive functions.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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