Feb 7 / 2020

What can you do if you feel constantly sluggish and tired?

In the modern fast-paced world, it is not surprising that the majority of people feel chronically tired and drowsy. We are oversaturated with unnecessary information to the point that we became addicted to it and simply cannot live a day without checking our social networks at least 20 times a day. This is one of the factors that drain our energy and make us constantly tired. But there are also other factors which can be eliminated. Moreover, it is crucial to find out the real cause of your drowsiness and fight it comprehensively especially if it is related to an underlying diseases, vitamin or mineral deficiency, and so on.

What can make you sleepy during the daytime?

Basically, there are two times of daytime sleepiness disorders: primary hypersomnia and secondary hypersomnia.

The first type consists of two standing alone conditions – narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

Narcolepsy is the most severe type of hypersomnias as its main symptom is unbearable sleepiness during the day which can cause people suddenly fall asleep whenever and wherever they are. These sleepiness attacks are called imperative which means that they are irresistible unlike in other types of sleepiness disorders. If you think that you may suffer from this disorder, check if you have other symptoms that are considered crucial for the diagnosis of narcolepsy:

- Sudden muscles weakening during the day which can result in falling down without actually losing consciousness. These attacks are usually triggered by powerful emotions.

- Sleep paralysis, i.e. a condition that occurs when you are falling asleep or waking up, are fully conscious but cannot more or speak for a couple of seconds to a minute. - Trouble falling asleep or frequent night awakenings with trouble going back to sleep.

- Hallucinations occurring when you are falling asleep or at awakening.

The disease is diagnosed firstly based on the patient’s complaints and then with the use of special computer-based sleep analysis tools such as Polysomnography, multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head that helps establishing whether there is an underlying condition (tumor, injury, etc.) that may cause these symptoms. Narcolepsy cannot be cured but it can be successfully managed with the use of amphetamines or much safer modern medications from the class of nootropics based on Modafinil or Armodafinil, one of which is Waklert you can buy here. These medicines are able to make an affected individual stay awake for 12 hours without the need of napping, they make the sleepiness attacks resistible, and are also suitable for people with other sleepiness disorders such as idiopathic hypersomnia, sleepiness caused by depression, insufficient night sleep and so on.

Idiopathic hypersomnia is similar to narcolepsy in two aspects: a person has a need to sleep more, has numerous sleepiness attacks during the day, can easily fall asleep while resting, i.e. watching a movie, etc., and has trouble falling asleep. But the difference is that the attacks of sleepiness are not as intense which means they are resistible. Besides, this condition isn’t accompanied by muscle weakness episodes, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis (it can happen but it’s not a necessary symptom). This condition although much less severe also can interfere with normal life and cannot be completely cured. The drugs such as Waklert are officially not intended for such disorders but considering their safety and effectiveness, we would recommend trying them over caffeine-containing stimulants or popular among students Adderall which is much less safer as it can easily cause dependence.

There are also other basic recommendations for coping with sleepiness in both conditions:

- Follow a stable schedule of going to sleep and waking up;

- Reduce exposure to any screens or bright light 1 hour before going to bed;

- Do at least 15-minute physical exercising in the morning;

- Let the fresh air and natural light in your office and home as much as possible even in winter.

- Follow a healthy diet. A secondary hypersomnia is basically daytime sleepiness caused by a health condition. For instance, it can be brain tumor, diabetes, vitamins deficiency, and many others. We will review some of them below.

What other causes of sleepiness can there be?

Name of the condition

Peculiarities

Iron deficiency

Deficiency of iron in the body can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood and cause iron deficiency anemia. According to the study, the level of this element not only affects the quality of sleep, but can also cause other disorders, such as restless legs syndrome. If iron deficiency is suspected, you should not rush to start taking drugs. It is better to do a blood test, and only if iron deficiency is confirmed then your doctor will give you tips on a diet change and prescribe iron-containing supplements. You can also check what products can increase iron level naturally on the Internet and incorporate them in your diet even prior to going to a doctor.

Restless legs syndrome

Some people simply cannot sit or lie still. They need to constantly move their legs (less often, their hands), especially in the evening and at night. This condition is called restless legs syndrome and it occurs in 2–10% of people. It is difficult for such a person to fall asleep. Sometimes restless legs syndrome is accompanied by other diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus, arthritis or hypothyroidism), so for an accurate diagnosis, you should consult a therapist.

Vitamin D deficiency

Due to a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, chronic fatigue occurs, the concentration of attention decreases and sleep is disturbed. In some cases, a lack of this vitamin can lead to apnea and affect metabolism. Vitamin D is produced in the sun, and therefore in winter, with a short daylight, doctors often advise taking it in capsules. The dosage will be prompted by a pharmacist in a pharmacy, but it will be much better to consult a doctor personally.

Sleep Apnea

Apnea is temporary respiratory arrest that leads to a lack of blood supply and, consequently, fatigue and tiredness in the morning. During an attack of apnea, the walls of the respiratory tract narrow and the access of oxygen to the lungs ceases. At risk are overweight people who smoke or snore. To reduce the likelihood of apnea, it is recommended to sleep on your side, do not take alcohol, sedatives and sleeping pills at night (so that the pharyngeal muscles remain toned), as well as quit smoking and monitor weight.

Seasonal affective disorder

Most often, it begins in autumn or winter, when it rains, and daylight hours become shorter. It differs from ordinary depression in that it passes with an increase in daylight hours and does not always require medication. If sleep disorders occur with the onset of autumn or winter, then you should eat more fruits and vegetables, as well as go outside during the day when the sun is shining.

Low blood pressure

Reduced pressure (or hypotension) occurs with impaired heart function, large blood loss, overstrain or prolonged stress. In addition to drowsiness, irritability increases, attacks of headache and dizziness, as well as fainting, can occur. The best treatment for hypotension is prevention. A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and daily routine are crucial.

Depression

You may be depressed, but not know this. One of the symptoms is constant fatigue. There is no strength to do anything and you constantly want to sleep. If you suspect depression, you should not make a self diagnosis but go to the doctor right away.

Hormonal imbalance

Problems with the endocrine system can cause frequent mood swings and drowsiness. This is especially true for women, as their hormonal cycle changes over the course of a month. Drowsiness can occur 5-6 days after menstruation and then disappear. Another thyroid disease - hypothyroidism - causes a slowdown in metabolism in the body, which leads to lethargy and drowsiness. To make the correct diagnosis, you need to go to the endocrinologist and do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and do hormone tests.

Side effects of drugs

Any package of medicines describes both the desired effect and a list of side effects. And if some of them cannot be overlooked, then drowsiness can be skipped by attributing its appearance to other causes. This is especially true for antidepressants. You should carefully read the instructions for all medications and if suddenly while you are on the medication you develop chronic fatigue - talk to your doctor, describe the symptoms and ask for another drug.

Infectious diseases

In acute respiratory viral infections, gastric and intestinal infections, daytime sleepiness is a common symptom. A weakened body requires rest - it is important not to overload yourself with business and allow yourself to relax. Viruses evolve faster than scientists find ways to fight them, so while the prevention of infectious diseases is difficult, and treatment is mainly reduced to taking antipyretic drugs.

Most often, fatigue and drowsiness are caused not by one cause, but by many different factors. To avoid problems with sleep and health in general, you need to undergo a full medical examination regularly, take tests in time and avoid self-medication. Although if your tests all come back normal, you try following the tips for avoiding sleepiness during daytime and still suffer from it, you can buy Waklert and use it as indicated in the guide to ensure that your body gets safe help in producing natural wakefulness-promoting substances.

(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)