Don’t Ignore That Constant Tired Feeling

If you’re someone who constantly feels tired all day long, this message is for you.  Listen to your body - it’s trying to tell you something.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a normal consequence after a night without adequate sleep. Once in a while, sleep deprivation is expected and is not a big deal.  However, when that constant fatigue happens day after day after day, it’s time to take action.  Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to developing high blood pressure, weight gain, depression, stroke, erectile dysfunction, to name just a few.

Besides health problems, excessive daytime sleepiness can lead to other serious issues. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2010 Sleep in America Poll found that one out of five adults reported that they missed events at least one day in the past month because they were too sleepy or had a sleep problem. Annually, over 50,000 traffic accidents in the United States are attributed to driving while sleepy.

How do you know when to be concerned about excessive daytime sleepiness?

A simple questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, can provide you the answer to this. In less than 2 minutes, after answering 8 simple questions, you can know if you should be concerned and should seek professional evaluation.

Starlight Medical Group has made this scale available online for people who wish to test themselves. Find out your score today. If you’re concerned about the results, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.