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What Causes Sudden And Spontaneous Sleep After Eating Supper?
Question: What can cause falling asleep for two or three hours, usually after supper, with no warning?
Brief Answer:
Mental fatigue along with reduced circulation to brain.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Post supper, falling asleep could be due to:
a. Blood circulation, increased to gut, post meal for absorption and metabolism and reduced to brain, which can cause drowsiness and sleep.
b. Very much tired or fatigue, could be secondary to disturbed sleep, heavy activity during daytime causing muscle and mental fatigue, hypothyroidism or anemia.
2. Normally, everybody is drowsy post food, especially high protein and calorie rich diet. You might be having exacerbated immediate sleep, possibly due to coexisting factors as mentioned above. Possibly mental fatigue and physical inactivity along with reduced circulation to brain
3. If you were my patient, I would recommend:
a. Get into a regular sleep pattern.
b. Mild exercises in the evening to increase adrenaline levels to avoid sleep immediately post food.
c. Avoid high calorie or protein rich food in supper and increase fiber in diet in all meals.
d. If the above would not help, thyroid hormone profile and hemogram study may be necessary.
Afternoon sleep should be limited to half an hour. Night sleep should be minimum 8-9 hours regularly and between 10-6 mostly.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Mental fatigue along with reduced circulation to brain.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Post supper, falling asleep could be due to:
a. Blood circulation, increased to gut, post meal for absorption and metabolism and reduced to brain, which can cause drowsiness and sleep.
b. Very much tired or fatigue, could be secondary to disturbed sleep, heavy activity during daytime causing muscle and mental fatigue, hypothyroidism or anemia.
2. Normally, everybody is drowsy post food, especially high protein and calorie rich diet. You might be having exacerbated immediate sleep, possibly due to coexisting factors as mentioned above. Possibly mental fatigue and physical inactivity along with reduced circulation to brain
3. If you were my patient, I would recommend:
a. Get into a regular sleep pattern.
b. Mild exercises in the evening to increase adrenaline levels to avoid sleep immediately post food.
c. Avoid high calorie or protein rich food in supper and increase fiber in diet in all meals.
d. If the above would not help, thyroid hormone profile and hemogram study may be necessary.
Afternoon sleep should be limited to half an hour. Night sleep should be minimum 8-9 hours regularly and between 10-6 mostly.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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