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Introduction
Chronic sleep loss and untreated sleep disorders have a profound impact on Americans of all ages. Seventy million people may be affected at an annual cost to society of $15 billion in healthcare expenses and $50 billion in lost productivity. - Dr. Mark Berger
Sleep Deficit - The Performance Killer Click Here
Large reductions in corporate health care costs are gained by concerted efforts to identify and treat employees with sleep apnea - Dr. Mark Berger
Common Sleep Apnea Questions?
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
How Does OSA Affect the Body?
What Are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
What is a Sleep Questionnaire?
What is the Treatment for OSA?
How Does OSA Affect My Business?
How Can an Employer Reduce the Risk of OSA Related Crashes?
What is Excessive Sleepiness (ES)?
Excessive Sleepiness can be a result of shift or disruption in the sleep-wake cycle, inadequate or poor quality sleep, sleep disorders, or the side effect of certain drugs. Excessive Sleepiness can result in an impact of your wakefulness.1 Impairments resulting from excessive sleepiness can include difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, low energy, lack of initiative, weariness, decreased mood, and/or irritability.
"I can’t seem to stay awake during the day" is a more common complaint than you might think. Sleepiness is a result of the body’s normal sleep-wake cycle. Sleepiness normally occurs in people at two periods of the day: during the late night/early morning hours between midnight and 7:00 AM and again generally in the mid-afternoon between 1:00 to 4:00 PM. If people are awake during those times, they have a higher risk of unintentionally falling asleep, especially if they haven’t been getting enough sleep.
"I can't seem to stay awake during the day" is a more common complaint than you might think
One of the most common complaints of daytime impairment can be fatigue or sleepiness. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they should be differentiated. Sleepiness specifically refers to an increased likelihood of falling asleep; fatigue refers to many conditions that can lead to difficulty in sustaining performance, but do not necessarily lead to falling asleep.
What are the symptoms of excessive sleepiness
Those who are suffering from excessive sleepiness may have one or more of the symptoms listed below, but if any of these symptoms are having an impact on your daily activities,3 then it may be appropriate for you to seek treatment for ES.
You may excessive sleepiness if you...
- Consistently do not get enough sleep or wake from sleep not feeling adequately rested
- Feel sleepy or fall asleep while driving
- Struggle to stay awake when you are inactive, such as when reading or watching television
- Are often being told by others that you look sleepy
- Have performance problems at school or work due to decreased alertness, difficulty paying attention, or inability to concentrate
- Have difficulty remembering things
- Must have a nap on most days in order to function
- Have slowed or delayed responses.
Common complaints that may indicate ES
- I can be irritable
- I am fatigued
- I have difficulty concentrating
- I have low energy
- I am not motivated or have low initiative
- I worry about sleepiness
How prevalent is excessive sleepiness?
Dr. Richard Carmona, the United States Surgeon General, states that chronic sleep loss and untreated sleep disorders have a profound impact on Americans of all ages.5 Seventy million people may be affected at an annual cost to society of $15 billion in healthcare expenses and $50 billion in lost productivity.5 ES is a common complaint associated with chronic sleep loss and sleep disorders.
Getting Enough Good Sleep?
Inadequate Sleep and Sleep Debt
You might ask: "How much sleep is needed for it to be enough?" The answer can vary widely between individuals and can vary over time, but it is often suggested that in order to stay alert the next day, an average adult should get about 8 hours of sleep each night.1 Some people may need more sleep, others less, but if you are not getting enough sleep, you can build up a "sleep debt".3 Most individuals will need to sleep longer on a subsequent night in order to "repay" that sleep debt or they may begin to experience excessive sleepiness during the day. Many people who do not get enough sleep during the work week try to make up for this by sleeping in on the weekends to reduce their sleep debt.1 If too much sleep is lost, it may not be possible to completely reverse the negative effects of not getting sufficient sleep during the week. For some people, their extended and changing schedules just do not allow time for a sufficient night’s sleep. If this is the case for you, you should talk to your doctor about treatment options for excessive sleepiness.
What is a Normal Night’s Sleep?
There are two states of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.4 REM sleep is associated with dreaming. NREM sleep has four stages distinguishable by succeedingly deeper levels of sleep. The normal sleep cycle starts at stage 1 NREM which is a state of drowsiness. Stage 2 follows which is a light NREM sleep stage. Stages 3 and 4 are deeper sleep stages that are known as delta or slow-wave sleep (SWS). After a brief return to stage 2 sleep, REM sleep begins. Most adults have 5 to 7 sleep cycles through the night, lasting approximately 90 minutes each, alternating between NREM and REM sleep stages. When does "Problem Sleepiness" become "Excessive Sleepiness?"
The most important consideration for determining if your sleepiness is excessive is that you experience sleepiness on a routine basis to the extent that it negatively impacts your daily functioning.3 The first thing you should try is to increase the amount of sleep you are getting. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP!
If you are getting enough sleep but still experience excessive sleepiness during the day, it may be time to consider that there may be one or more medical conditions that could be the underlying cause(s) for your excessive sleepiness.
"Alertness matters because being alert is much more than being awake. When you're alert, you may be more focused and better able to pay attention. At work, at home and everywhere else your day takes you — Alertness Matters.
Sleep Disorders
You may not be getting enough good sleep because of a sleep disorder. According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2002 Sleep in America poll, 74% of respondents experienced at least one symptom of a sleep disorder a few nights a week or more. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders lists over 80 sleep disorders. Because of sleep problems, many people do not get enough good sleep. Below are just a few sleep disorders:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
(OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.
- Narcolepsy
is a chronic, neurological sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks.
- Insomnia
is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Shift Work Sleep Disorder
(SWSD) is a sleep disorder that affects people who frequently rotate shifts or work at night.
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
is a sleep disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and the irresistible urge to move the legs that occur when lying down or sitting for long periods of time.
- Do you often feel fatigued or worn out?
- Are you sometimes too tired to enjoy time with family & friends?
- Do you sometimes make mistakes or errors in judgment while driving, at home or at work because you're tired?
- Do you sometimes have trouble paying attention or staying focused?
- Are you often irritable or cranky?
- 51% of US adult drivers say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy...17% have actually fallen asleep at the wheel.
- 37% of US adults report that daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily activities.
- 60 - 70% of shift workers have problem sleepiness and/or difficulty sleeping.
- In a study of nurses working night or rotating shifts, 30% report falling asleep on the job at least once a week.
- In a study, non-daytime work was associated with a 63% increased risk of having a fatal occupational accident when compared to daytime work.
- Sleepiness is the largest identifiable and preventable cause of commercial transportation accidents on the road, in the air, at sea and on railways.
- Being alert helps you be in control of your life.
- Being alert can help you avoid accidents and be more focused.
- Being alert matters to you and everyone you care about.
ABOUT ALERTNESS
Alertness matters because being alert helps you steer clear of dangerous situations, helps sharpen your thinking and helps you get the most out of life. Alertness matters because without it you may put yourself and those around you at risk. We don't often see the warning signs of not being alert. Take the quiz below to find out if you may have a sleep problem or trouble with alertness.
Are You Alert?
If you're not alert and struggle through your days, you may not be getting the most out of life. Alertness helps you stay safe, helps you think clearly and helps you feel more in control. Answer these questions and take responsibility for your alertness.
Why is this important?
If you're not alert, you're more likely to have accidents, putting yourself and everyone around you at risk. At work, at home and everywhere else your day takes you - Alertness Matters.
When you're not alert at work, you're more likely to have an accident. You might also forget tasks or miss deadlines. Your co-workers may think you're not up to the job. When you're not alert with friends and family, you may be too tired to socialize and may find everyday tasks and conversation overwhelming.
DID YOU KNOW.
Why is it differnt from being awake?
It's easy to underestimate how tired you really are; that's why it's important to take your sleepiness seriously.
Being alert is much more than being awake—it's being at the top of your game. When you're alert, you may be more focused and better able to pay attention.
Ask yourself if you often feel more tired and unfocused than you should or if close friends notice that you frequently fall asleep in the wrong situations. It's critical to take your sleepiness seriously and take responsibility for your alertness!
Survey Results
Harris Interactive®, a global market research company, recently conducted an online study on behalf of Cephalon, Inc., to learn more about the barriers and strategies of sleep and assess the impact of alertness on daily life. The study, conducted between January 31 and February 14, 2005, surveyed 1,715 employed U.S. adults ages 18 and older.