Constant malaise and drowsiness. Feeling of constant tiredness and drowsiness in women. Weakness: what to do

Every morning you make a huge effort to get out of bed, and during the day you constantly want to sleep? You are not alone in this. Weakness and drowsiness are the most common reasons people seek medical help. Every fifth person periodically feels very weak and sleepy, and for every tenth this feeling is almost constant.

In this article, we will try to figure out what is behind these unpleasant symptoms and how to deal with them.

Determining the state of muscle weakness

Weakness is a certain set of sensations that arise in a variety of situations. It can be based on both stress and the beginning of the development of any disease. As a rule, muscle weakness is accompanied by states of depression, as well as a feeling of boredom and depression. But the completion of some physical action also often causes the described well-being.

Interestingly, muscle weakness is by no means always associated with a feeling of drowsiness. That is, it can be defined as a state of fatigue and lack of energy associated with physical or psychological problems. In this case, a person wants to sit comfortably in a chair, relax, but not sleep.

What is sleepiness

And drowsiness, as everyone probably understands, is an obsessive desire to sleep, and quite often it does not depend on the quality of sleep at night. People in a state of increased drowsiness sometimes fall asleep in the most inappropriate places and situations for this.

A person with this sensation, as a rule, finds it quite difficult, and sometimes completely impossible, to focus on anything that requires attention. The reactions of such a patient are inhibited, he becomes awkward and lethargic.

By the way, weakness and drowsiness in this case are paired. After all, everyone understands that a person who wants to sleep all the time, by definition, cannot be physically strong.

These two unpleasant symptoms can occur as a result of certain medications, sleep disorders, psychological problems, or other, often very serious, health problems.

How work and seasons affect the appearance of lethargy and drowsiness

If a person feels weakness, drowsiness during the day, the reasons for this may lie in the peculiarities of the rhythm of his work. Schedule fluctuations, for example, for shift workers, security guards or professionals who have periodic night shifts, often become an impetus for sleep rhythm disturbances, which, in turn, causes a feeling of weakness and lethargy.

Often the cause of drowsiness are seasonal changes. Man, as part of nature, begins to feel the need for longer sleep in the autumn-winter period. But, as a rule, it is not in his habits to listen to such "whims" of the body - and hence the state of constant fatigue, depression and a chronic desire to sleep that haunts us in the cold season.

Weakness, drowsiness: causes

Of course, not only the frantic pace of modern life can play a cruel joke on the state of sleep and wakefulness of a person. Researchers consider feelings of fatigue, weakness and drowsiness to be signs of serious diseases that are ready to begin their destructive action in the human body or already have it. This can be diabetes, thyroid problems, heart disease, head injuries, cancer, etc.

So, a pathological change in the thyroid gland (in medicine it is defined as hypothyroidism), for example, manifests itself not only in a feeling of constant lack of sleep (although such a person sleeps for 8-9 hours), but also in weight gain, as well as in a haunting feeling that he freezes all the time.

How diabetes and other hormonal changes manifest

If a person has a lack of insulin, then the imbalance caused by a violation of the processing of incoming glucose causes weakness, drowsiness, dizziness. Moreover, drowsiness is observed both with an increase and a decrease in glucose levels. In addition, the patient is tormented by constant thirst caused by a feeling of dry mouth, itching of the skin and a decrease in blood pressure. When these symptoms appear, an endocrinologist should be consulted.

By the way, the hormonal imbalance caused by both menopause and pregnancy (in the early stages) also accompanies a feeling of fatigue and drowsiness.

How do heart diseases manifest?

If chronic weakness and drowsiness are combined with swelling of the legs, pale skin, blue fingertips, as well as chest pain after overeating or physical exertion, then it is quite possible that the causes of this are hidden in a disease associated with the state of the cardiovascular system.

Cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, hypertension and heart failure can manifest themselves in this way.

What other diseases can cause drowsiness and weakness

Drowsiness and dizziness are, among other things, alarming symptoms in the event of a skull injury or concussion. If, after hitting the head of a person, weakness, nausea, drowsiness haunt, then he should definitely consult a doctor for an examination.

With a decrease in blood pressure, the patient also tends to sleep, he is dizzy - this is due to a lack of oxygen entering the brain.

The same effect of lack of oxygen is caused by iron deficiency anemia, since the lack of ferrum disrupts the production of hemoglobin. As a result, the patient feels constant fatigue, his hair falls out and his taste is distorted.

Weakness and drowsiness are symptoms of liver disease

With any of the liver diseases, its detoxification function fails, which causes the body to overflow with toxic substances that have a negative effect on the state of the nervous system and brain.

Obvious symptoms of such a pathology are weakness, drowsiness, dizziness. They are joined, as a rule, by a change in skin color (yellowness), sweat has a pungent odor, and urine becomes dark. The patient loses his appetite, and foci of irritation form on the skin.

A person who has these symptoms should urgently contact a general practitioner or hepatologist (a doctor who specializes in liver diseases) for an examination and an accurate diagnosis.

Diseases that cause drowsiness and weakness

Problems in the work of the intestines are also often the cause of weakness and drowsiness. For example, a disease such as celiac disease (celiac disease) is caused by the inability of the intestines to digest gluten, which is part of cereals. And if the patient prefers to eat pasta, bread, pizza and cookies, then, due to a lack of nutrients, he will be disturbed by bloating, diarrhea, soreness in the joints and loss of strength.

Weakness, fatigue, drowsiness and changes in appetite are characteristic signs of the development of malignant diseases. In addition, the patient loses weight, his temperature periodically rises. All these symptoms should alert a person and force him to contact an oncologist as soon as possible for the necessary examination.

Depression

Every fifth person in the world at least once experienced a depressive state. This misfortune is characterized by the same set of symptoms: headache, drowsiness, weakness and a state of constant fatigue for a long time. A person with depression is in a depressed mood, which does not depend on the circumstances. He loses interest in everything that previously gave pleasure, he has thoughts about his own worthlessness, or even suicidal tendencies can be traced.

Most often, depression is associated with increased stress in our society. Competition, difficult economic conditions, uncertainty about the future - all this is the basis for the development of a pessimistic outlook on life, which gives impetus to the development of depression.

If you notice any of its symptoms, be sure to consult a doctor. Depression is treated with medication. As an addition, they resort to the help of psychotherapy, which contributes to the development of skills for self-regulation of the emotional state at the time of the crisis.

So what does the state of drowsiness and weakness mean?

As you can see, there are quite a few reasons that can cause the described symptoms in a person. Not only the listed pathologies, but also chronic inflammatory diseases, sleep apnea, disorders of the immune system can also cause their appearance.

Therefore, to get rid of lethargy and a feeling of constant lack of sleep, an accurate diagnosis is necessary. And this means, first of all, an appeal to a doctor, a thorough examination, and only then - the definition of the disease that causes such a condition.

What to do if you are not sick, but constantly want to sleep?

If you do not have serious deviations in health, then you still have to work hard. Be sure to review your daily routine. Get up and go to bed at the same time. Before going to bed, take small walks that will allow you to relax and ensure sound sleep.

Review your diet, do not overeat at night. Do not forget that you should drink at least 2 liters of water per day, as dehydration also leads to chronic fatigue.

Provide oxygen to the room where you are most of the time.

At least 10 minutes a day, weather permitting, stay in the sun. Think positive, try to find the positive in every situation.

Compliance with these simple rules will help you maintain vigor and efficiency, and you will leave the weakness and drowsiness that poison life. Be healthy and happy!

If a person gets sleepy at any time of the day and in the most unexpected places, from the office to the gym, it can be argued that he has a problem - The reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon can be very diverse: lack of sleep, illness, poor lifestyle, intake medicines and much more. In any case, a permanent state of drowsiness cannot be tolerated; its source must be found and eradicated.

Diabetes

Many doctors recommend that people who have constant increased drowsiness and fatigue visit an endocrinologist. The problem may be diabetes. Insulin serves as a supplier of glucose for cells. If the desire to go to bed accompanies a person throughout the day, this may be a signal of a low or high concentration of glucose in the body.

You should not immediately suspect that you have diabetes mellitus, faced with a constant feeling of weakness. You should be alert only when there are accompanying symptoms characteristic of this disease. Main manifestations:

low pressure;
skin itching;
regular dizziness;
incessant thirst;
feeling of dryness in the mouth;
chronic weakness.

These symptoms indicate the need for an immediate visit to the endocrinologist. The doctor will prescribe a blood test for sugar, a urine test.

Apnea

Listing the main causes of constant drowsiness, one cannot forget about sleep apnea. This is a syndrome that is primarily faced by the elderly, obese people. This is a short-term cessation of breathing that occurs during sleep. The person's snoring suddenly stops. Breathing stops. Then the snoring is heard again. In such conditions, the body does not receive the necessary rest and therefore makes attempts to compensate for what was not received during the day.

Sleep apnea is a symptom of sudden awakening, a feeling of lack of oxygen. This may happen several times during the night. In the morning, the patient has high blood pressure. In such cases, you should make an appointment with a sleep doctor - this specialist works with sleep disorders.

The cause of the disease is established with the help of a special study - polysomnography. The patient spends the night in the hospital, during sleep he is connected to a device that records all changes in the body.

pressure problems

Common causes of persistent sleepiness are hypertension or hypotension. High blood pressure (hypertension) is most often experienced by men over 40, obese people, diabetics, and owners of bad habits (alcohol, cigarettes). There is also a hereditary predisposition.

Hypertension declares itself not only by drowsiness that disturbs a person during the day, and by pressure rising above 140 in a calm state. Its main symptoms are:

distraction;
night insomnia;
constant excitement, nervousness;
eye redness;
headache.

Another potential source of chronic sleepiness is hypotension. If the pressure is in a consistently low state, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, there is a lack of oxygen, which leads to weakness and a desire to go to bed. Symptoms such as lethargy and weakness, headache, dizziness can indicate hypotension. You should definitely consult a therapist if the pressure is constantly reduced.

Medications

If a person has persistent drowsiness, the reasons may be taking certain medications. First of all, these are (antidepressants, antipsychotics, tranquilizers). Their action may continue the next day after administration. The following drugs can also cause drowsiness:

antihistamines;
soothing;
sleeping pills;
remedies for motion sickness;
painkillers;
anti-cold.

If a person suffering from drowsiness is taking a drug belonging to one of these groups, it is worth starting with a careful study of the instructions. Perhaps the rules of admission were violated, the recommended dose was exceeded. If a constant craving for sleep is listed among the side effects, you can contact your doctor with a request to replace the drug with another one. Also, you can not get carried away with over-the-counter sleeping pills, “prescribing” them to yourself.

Iron-deficiency anemia

The production of hemoglobin, which provides the supply of oxygen to organs, is disrupted if the body suffers from iron deficiency. The human brain in this case "suffocates", resulting in weakness, craving for sleep. What are the symptoms of drowsiness that indicate anemia:

dizziness;
taste disorder;
hair loss;
pallor;
dyspnea;
weakness.

If you suspect that you have iron deficiency anemia, you should first take a blood test. If the results show a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, you should immediately make an appointment with a therapist. The doctor will prescribe and select a course of vitamins. It is also worth changing the diet to include pomegranates, apples, carrots, red meat. All these products serve as an effective preventive measure.

Depression

Are you worried about constant sleepiness? Both its causes and the duration of such a state can be associated with depression. If a person is stressed, the body may respond to it with constant drowsiness. A prolonged stressful state leads to endless experiences that the brain cannot cope with. To begin the fight against weakness in such a situation is to identify the problem that gave rise to stress, and search for the optimal solution. A good psychologist can help with this.

Vitamins help fight depression effectively. It is best to pick them up with the help of a doctor. Also recommended are frequent walks, sports and a large number of pleasant emotions.

Hormonal disbalance

If there is constant fatigue and drowsiness, the reasons may be hormonal failure. Thyroid hormones control a large number of functions: weight, metabolism, vitality. If hormones are produced in insufficient quantities, this leads to metabolic disorders and a constant desire to go to bed. It is advisable to contact an endocrinologist if you have the following symptoms:

memory impairment;
dry skin;
the appearance of excess weight;
increased fatigue;
brittle nails.

The doctor will prescribe an analysis for thyroid hormones, prescribe an effective treatment.

If drowsiness is accompanied by constant hunger, this may indicate a recent pregnancy. So the body of the expectant mother is protected from overwork and stress. Vitamins, frequent rest, good sleep, including daytime, regular walks will help in the fight against drowsiness.

Full sleep, lasting at least 8 hours, is an effective cure for such phenomena as constant fatigue and drowsiness. Their reasons may be natural. It is advisable to go to bed before 11 pm, since it is at this time that the body is tuned to the maximum production of sleep hormones. It is also worth achieving the establishment of a sleep schedule, every day to go to bed and wake up at the same time.

Fresh air is a proven cure for drowsiness. It is desirable to spend at least 2-3 hours daily on the street. Regular gymnastics, a diet rich in all important trace elements and vitamins are welcome. Do not drink alcohol or smoke before bed. Ideally, you should completely abandon bad habits.

Speaking about specific foods that drive away drowsiness, first of all it is worth mentioning fish. Mackerel, trout, sardines, tuna - these foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Tomatoes, grapefruits, kiwi, green apples help to disperse sleep. Sweet peppers and asparagus are useful.

Folk recipes

Many herbal teas provide the body with invaluable help in the fight against drowsiness. Drinks with peppermint, chicory, lemongrass are known for their effectiveness. They have a strengthening effect, have a calming effect on the nervous system and provide vigor. A proven remedy is Bologda grass. For a glass of boiling water, you need about 15 grams of grass. The drink is infused for 30 minutes. It should be taken three times a day, using a tablespoon.

Datura leaves will also help to solve the problem with constant bouts of sleep during the daytime. It is necessary to brew 20 grams in a glass of boiling water, soak for about 30 minutes. "Medicine" is taken half an hour before a meal for half a glass. Twice a day is enough. Also useful are inhalations based on

A drink that invigorates for the whole day is prepared from lemon juice, a small amount of honey (a teaspoon is enough) and heated water (about 200 ml). The remedy is taken immediately after waking up, it works just as well as coffee, unlike the latter, it has no side effects.

It must be remembered that folk remedies are effective only when there is a natural constant drowsiness. The reasons should not be related to the disease.

sleepiness pills

Modern pharmacologists pay maximum attention to drowsiness, one of their latest achievements is the drug Modafinil. This medicine has an activating effect on the brain, while not causing insomnia. The role of the experimental subjects in his test was played by soldiers of the American army, who were able to effectively resist sleep for 40 hours.

The drug is valuable not only for the absence of side effects and addiction. It also has a positive effect on memory and intelligence, makes a person more resilient. Doctors often prescribe it for the following diseases:

age-related memory problems;
Alzheimer's disease;
post-anesthetic state;
depression.

In addition, amino acids help fight lethargy and drowsiness. These are glycine, glutamic acid, which are taken, depending on the weight, 1-2 tablets per day.

Leaving chronic weakness and incessant cravings for sleep unattended is dangerous. Are you constantly sleepy? The causes, symptoms and treatment will be determined and prescribed by the doctor.

Hello everyone, I'm Olga Ryshkova. Today I want to discuss with you the question of why some people experience a feeling of constant fatigue, weakness and drowsiness, what are the causes of this condition and what to do about it. Feeling low energy can be a symptom of the disease and the fact that you experience severe weakness, lethargy and you constantly want to sleep can most likely be explained by a medical condition. This feeling can be in a man, and in a woman, and in a child. I will give ten medical reasons that lead to this condition.

Anemia.

This is the most common source of seemingly inexplicable ill health. You get tired quickly, because you have low hemoglobin, your body does not have enough oxygen. In addition to fatigue and weakness, anemia may be accompanied by shortness of breath, tinnitus, and headache. A decrease in hemoglobin is detected by a general blood test.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

CFS is diagnosed when the state of severe weakness lasts up to 6 months. The disease is most often observed in women aged 25-45 years. The mechanism of development, unfortunately, is still not clear.

Most experts believe that CFS has a viral origin - the presence in the body of herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, Coxsackie, hepatitis C, retrovirus, enterovirus, which are activated against the background of immune disorders. Studies show the presence of immunological disorders in patients with CFS. A comprehensive examination and regular contact with the attending physician is necessary.

celiac disease

This is a digestive disorder in which intolerance to the gluten protein develops. Gluten or gluten is found in wheat and rye, from which bread is baked. Gluten intolerance or celiac disease affects 1% of the population. But interestingly, 9 out of 10 with this disorder don't even know it. Just severe forms are rare, and most develop anemia, stomatitis, dermatitis and other pathologies. Feeling constantly tired and weak is one of the symptoms of celiac disease.

Gluten intolerance begins to develop in children after the introduction of complementary foods from cereals at 6-12 months. It is she who can later cause constant fatigue and drowsiness in your child. In the blood, total protein, albumins, calcium, phosphorus, lipids and cholesterol are reduced. Switch to a gluten-free diet and keep an eye on your progress.

Hypothyroidism.

Lethargy, weakness, physical fatigue, drowsiness are symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland or hypothyroidism. It is checked by analysis for thyroid hormones.

Apnea.

Sleep apnea syndrome - breath holding in snorers during sleep for 20-30 seconds, maybe 10-15 times per hour. Violation of the structure of sleep and oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) leads to the fact that in the morning and afternoon you want to sleep, your performance decreases, and fatigue appears. Training the upper respiratory tract with special exercises and breathing techniques helps to get rid of snoring.

Diabetes.

General weakness can be a sign of long-term elevated blood glucose levels. Other signs of diabetes are thirst, hunger, increased urination, and weight loss.

Infectious mononucleosis.

Viral disease (usually in adolescents and young adults) with painful swollen lymph nodes and feeling constantly tired. It can go on for months or years. And even after treatment, increased fatigue persists for several months.

Restless legs syndrome.

This is a condition of the nervous system that causes uncontrolled leg movements during sleep. As a result, poor quality sleep will cause you to feel tired and sleepy during the day.

anxiety disorder.

This is a desire for isolation with low self-esteem, sensitivity to negative assessments of the environment, severe forebodings, fear of disapproval from others, a feeling of loneliness. It affects 1 in 20 people to a greater or lesser extent. Anxiety, anxiety, and irritability are accompanied by a constant feeling of fatigue.

Depression.

After 40 years, every tenth person suffers from it in one way or another, and after 65 - three out of ten. In adolescence, it is common in 15-40% and even 12% of children and adolescents are prone to depression. Depressed mood, loss of interest, lack of energy, severe fatigue are the main signs of depression.

“I fall asleep on the go”, “I sit at a lecture and sleep”, “I struggle with sleep at work” - such expressions can be heard from many people, however, as a rule, they cause more jokes than compassion. Sleepiness is mainly due to lack of sleep at night, overwork, or simply boredom and monotony in life. However, fatigue after rest should pass, boredom can be dispelled by other methods, and monotony can be diversified. But for many, drowsiness does not go away from the measures taken, the person sleeps enough at night, but in the daytime, constantly holding back his yawn, he looks where it would be “more convenient to nestle”.

The feeling when you feel an irresistible desire to sleep, but there is no such possibility, frankly, disgusting, capable of causing aggression towards those who interfere with this, or in general towards the whole world around. In addition, problems do not always arise only in the daytime. Imperative (irresistible) episodes during the day create the same obsessive thoughts: "I'll come - and immediately go to sleep." Not everyone succeeds, an irresistible desire can disappear after a short 10-minute sleep, frequent awakenings in the middle of the night do not give rest, nightmares often come. Tomorrow, everything will start all over again...

The problem can become the butt of jokes

With rare exceptions, watching a sluggish and apathetic person day after day, striving to constantly “snack”, someone seriously thinks that he is not healthy. Colleagues get used to it, perceive it as indifference and indifference, and consider these manifestations more of a character trait than a pathological condition. Sometimes constant drowsiness and apathy generally become the subject of jokes and all sorts of "jokes".

Medicine "thinks" differently. She calls excessive sleep duration hypersomnia. and its variants are named depending on the disorders, because not always constant drowsiness during the day implies a good night's rest, even if a lot of time has been spent in bed.

From the point of view of specialists, such a condition requires research, because daytime sleepiness that occurs in a person who seems to have slept enough time at night can be a symptom of a pathological condition that is not perceived by ordinary people as a disease. And how can one regard such behavior if a person does not complain, says that nothing hurts him, he sleeps well and, in principle, is healthy - just for some reason he constantly wants to sleep.

Outsiders here, of course, are unlikely to help, you need to delve into yourself and try to find the cause, and, possibly, contact a specialist.

It is not difficult to detect signs of drowsiness in oneself, they are quite “eloquent”:

Fatigue, lethargy, loss of strength and constant obsessive yawning - these signs of poor health, when nothing hurts, prevent you from plunging into work;
Consciousness is somewhat dulled, surrounding events do not particularly excite;
The mucous membranes become dry;
The sensitivity of peripheral analyzers drops;
The heart rate is reduced.

We should not forget that the norm of sleep - 8 hours, is not suitable for all age categories. In a child up to six months, constant sleep is considered a normal state. However, as he grows and gains strength, priorities change, he wants to play more and explore the world, so there is less and less daily time for sleep. In the elderly, on the contrary, the older the person, the more he needs not to go far from the sofa.

Still fixable

The modern rhythm of life predisposes to neuropsychic overloads, which, to a greater extent than physical ones, can lead to sleep disorders. Temporary fatigue, although manifested by drowsiness (the same temporary), but quickly passes when the body rests, and then sleep is restored. M It can be said that in many cases people themselves are to blame for overloading their bodies.

When does daytime sleepiness not cause concern for one's health? The reasons may be different, but, as a rule, these are transient personal problems, periodic "hands on work" at work, a cold, or a rare stay in the fresh air. Here are a few examples where the desire to organize a “quiet hour” is not considered a symptom of a serious illness:

Lack of night sleep due to banal reasons: personal experiences, stress, caring for a newborn, a session with students, an annual report, that is, circumstances to which a person devotes a lot of time and energy to the detriment of rest.
Chronic fatigue, which the patient himself speaks of, implying constant work (mental and physical), endless household chores, lack of time for hobbies, sports, outdoor activities and entertainment. In a word, a person was dragged into a routine, he missed the moment when the body recovered in a couple of days, with chronic fatigue, when everything has gone so far, perhaps, in addition to rest, long-term treatment will also be needed.
Fatigue makes itself felt faster with insufficient oxygen supply to the body, Why does the brain begin to experience starvation ( hypoxia). This happens if a person works for a long time in unventilated areas, there is little fresh air in his free time. What if he smokes too?
Lack of sunlight. It's no secret that cloudy weather, the monotonous tapping of raindrops on the glass, the rustle of leaves outside the window greatly contribute to daytime drowsiness, which is difficult to cope with.
Lethargy, loss of strength and the need for longer sleep appears when "the fields are compressed, the groves are bare", and nature itself is about to fall asleep for a long time - late autumn, winter(it gets dark early, the sun rises late).
After a hearty lunch there is a desire to bow the head to something soft and cool. This is all the blood circulating through our vessels - it tends to the digestive organs - there is a lot of work, and at this time less blood flows to the brain and, along with it, oxygen. So it turns out that when the stomach is full, the brain is starving. Fortunately, this does not last long, so the afternoon nap passes quickly.
Fatigue and drowsiness during the day may appear as a protective reaction of the body with psycho-emotional stress, stress, prolonged excitement.
Taking medicines in the first place, tranquilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, hypnotics, certain antihistamines that have either direct action or side effects of lethargy and drowsiness can cause similar symptoms.
mild cold, which in most cases is carried on the legs, without a sick leave and drug treatment (the body copes on its own), is manifested by rapid fatigue, therefore, during the working day, it is not weakly sleepy.

Pregnancy in itself, of course, the state is physiological, but the changes taking place in the body of a woman cannot be ignored, primarily regarding the ratio of hormones, which are accompanied by sleep disturbance (it is difficult to fall asleep at night, and during the day it is not always possible).
Hypothermia- a decrease in body temperature as a result of hypothermia. From time immemorial, people have known that, being in unfavorable conditions (blizzard, frost), the main thing is not to succumb to the temptation to rest and sleep, and it tends to sleep incredibly from fatigue in the cold: often there is a feeling of warmth, it begins to seem to a person that he is in a good place. heated room and warm bed. This is a very dangerous symptom.

However, there are conditions that are often included in the concept of "syndrome". How to perceive them? In order for the presence of such a disease to be confirmed, it is necessary not only to pass some tests and go to some fashionable examination. A person, first of all, must himself identify his problems and present specific complaints, but, unfortunately, in most cases people consider themselves healthy, and doctors, to be honest, often dismiss the “insignificant claims” of patients to their health.

Disease or normal?

Lethargy, drowsiness, daytime fatigue can give various pathological conditions, even if we do not consider them as such:

Apathy and lethargy, as well as a desire to sleep at the wrong time for this, appears when neurotic disorders and depressive states, which are within the competence of psychotherapists, it is better for amateurs not to meddle in such subtle matters.
Weakness and drowsiness, irritability and weakness, loss of strength and decreased ability to work, often in their complaints are noted by people suffering sleep apnea(breathing problems during sleep).
Loss of energy, lethargy, weakness and drowsiness are symptoms , which at the present time is often repeated by both doctors and patients, but few people have seen it recorded as a diagnosis.
Often, lethargy and a desire to sleep during the day are noted by patients whose outpatient card contains such a “semi-diagnosis” as or , or whatever else is called such a state.
I want to stay longer in bed, sleep at night and during the day for people who have recently had infection - acute, or having it in a chronic form. The immune system, trying to restore its defenses, requires rest from other systems. During sleep, the body inspects the condition of the internal organs after the disease (what damage has been caused by it?), in order to correct everything if possible.
Keeps you awake at night and makes you sleepy during the day "restless leg syndrome". In such patients, doctors do not find any specific pathology, and night rest becomes a big problem.
Fibromyalgia. Due to what reasons and circumstances this disease appears, science is not known for certain, since, apart from excruciating pain in the whole body, disturbing peace and sleep, doctors do not find any pathology in a suffering person.
Alcoholism, drug addiction and other abuses in the status of "former" - in such patients, sleep is often disturbed forever, not to mention the states after withdrawal and "withdrawal".

The already long list of causes of daytime sleepiness that occurs in people who are considered to be practically healthy and able to work could be continued, which we will do in the next section, designating officially recognized pathological conditions as causes.

Cause in sleep disorder or somnological syndromes

The functions and tasks of sleep are programmed by human nature and consist in restoring the body's strength spent in the process of daytime activities. As a rule, an active life takes 2/3 of the day, about 8 hours are allotted for sleep. A healthy body, in which everything is safe and calm, life support systems are working normally, this time is more than enough - a person wakes up alert and rested, goes to work in order to return to a warm soft bed in the evening.

Meanwhile, the order that has been established since the birth of life on Earth can be destroyed by problems that are invisible at first glance, which do not allow a person to sleep at night and make him fall asleep on the go during the day:

(insomnia) at night very quickly forms signs indicating that a person is not doing well: nervousness, fatigue, impaired memory and attention, depression, loss of interest in life and, of course, lethargy and constant sleepiness during the day.
Sleeping Beauty Syndrome (Kleine-Levin) the reason for which is still unclear. Almost no one considers this syndrome to be a disease, because in the intervals between attacks, patients do not differ from other people in any way and do not resemble patients. This pathology is characterized by periodically occurring (intervals from 3 months to six months) episodes of prolonged sleep (on average, 2/3 days, although it can be a day or two, or even longer). The most interesting thing is that people wake up to go to the toilet and eat. In addition to prolonged sleep during exacerbations, patients also notice other oddities: they eat a lot without controlling this process, some (males) show hypersexuality, become aggressive towards others if they try to stop voracity or hibernation.
Idiopathic hypersomnia. This disease can haunt people up to 30 years old, so it is often mistaken for a healthy sleep of young people. She is characterized by drowsiness during the day, which occurs even in situations that require high activity (study, for example). Without looking at a long and full night's rest, awakening is difficult, a bad mood and anger do not leave a person who "got up so early" for a long time.
Narcolepsy- a rather severe sleep disorder that is difficult to treat. It is almost impossible to get rid of drowsiness forever, having such a pathology, after symptomatic treatment, it will again declare itself. Surely, most people have not even heard a term such as narcolepsy, but such a disorder is considered by sleep experts to be one of the worst variants of hypersomnia. The thing is that it often does not give rest either during the day, causing an irresistible desire to fall asleep right at the workplace, or at night, creating obstacles to uninterrupted sleep (inexplicable anxiety, hallucinations when falling asleep that wake up, frighten, provide a bad mood and a breakdown over the next day).
Pickwick syndrome(specialists also call it obese hypoventilation syndrome). The description of the Pickwickian syndrome, oddly enough, belongs to the famous English writer Charles Dickens (“The Posthumous Notes of the Pickwick Club”). Some authors argue that it was the syndrome described by Ch. Dickens that became the founder of a new science - somnology. Thus, having nothing to do with medicine, the writer unwittingly contributed to its development. Pickwickian syndrome is predominantly observed in people who have an impressive weight (grade 4 obesity), which puts a huge strain on the heart, presses on the diaphragm, makes it difficult to breathe, resulting in blood clotting ( polycythemia) and hypoxia. Patients with Pickwick's syndrome, as a rule, already suffer from sleep apnea, their rest looks like a series of episodes of stopping and resuming respiratory activity (the starving brain, when it becomes completely unbearable, makes you breathe, interrupting sleep). Of course, during the day - fatigue, weakness and an obsessive desire to sleep. By the way, Pickwick's syndrome is sometimes observed in patients with less than the fourth degree of obesity. The origin of this disease has not been clarified, perhaps a genetic factor plays a role in its development, but the fact that all sorts of extreme situations for the body (craniocerebral trauma, stress, pregnancy, childbirth) can become an impetus for a sleep disorder is already, in general , proven.

A mysterious disease, also coming from a sleep disorder - hysterical lethargy(lethargy) is nothing more than a protective reaction of the body in response to a strong shock, stress. Of course, for drowsiness, lethargy, slowness, you can take a mild course of a mysterious illness, manifested by periodic and short-term attacks that can catch you anywhere in the daytime. Lethargic sleep, which inhibits all physiological processes and lasts for decades, certainly does not fit the category we are describing (daytime sleepiness).

Is sleepiness a sign of a serious illness?

Such a problem as constant drowsiness accompanies many pathological conditions, so there is no need to put it off until later, perhaps it will turn out to be the symptom that will help find the true cause of the ailment, namely, a specific disease. Complaints of weakness and drowsiness, loss of strength and bad mood may give reason to suspect:

- a decrease in the content, which entails a drop in the level of hemoglobin - a protein that delivers oxygen to cells for respiration. Lack of oxygen leads to hypoxia (oxygen starvation), which is manifested by the above symptoms. Diet, fresh air and iron supplements help to get rid of this kind of drowsiness.
, , some forms - in general, conditions in which cells do not receive the amount of oxygen necessary for full functioning (basically, erythrocytes, for some reason, cannot carry it to their destination).
below normal values (usually blood pressure is taken as the norm - 120/80 mm Hg). Slow blood flow through dilated vessels also does not contribute to the enrichment of tissues with oxygen and nutrients. Especially under such circumstances, the brain suffers. Patients with low blood pressure are often dizzy, they cannot stand attractions such as swings and carousels, they are motion sick in the car. Blood pressure in hypotensive people decreases after intellectual, physical and psycho-emotional overstrain, with intoxication, lack of vitamins in the body. Hypotension often accompanies iron deficiency and other anemias, but people suffering from it are most prone to it. (VSD of hypotonic type).
Thyroid diseases with a decrease in its functional abilities ( hypothyroidism). Insufficiency of thyroid function naturally leads to a drop in the level of thyroid-stimulating hormones, which gives a rather diverse clinical picture, including: rapid fatigue even after slight physical exertion, memory impairment, absent-mindedness, lethargy, slowness, drowsiness, chilliness, bradycardia or tachycardia, hypotension or arterial hypertension, anemia, damage to the digestive system, gynecological problems and much more. In general, the lack of thyroid hormones makes these people quite sick, so you can hardly expect them to be very active in life, they, as a rule, always complain of a breakdown and a constant desire to sleep.
Pathology of the cervical spine vowel (, hernia), which leads to feeding the brain.
Various hypothalamic lesions, since it contains zones that take part in regulating the rhythms of sleep and wakefulness;
respiratory failure with(decreased oxygen levels in the blood) and hypercapnia(blood saturation with carbon dioxide) is a direct path to hypoxia and, accordingly, its manifestations.

When the reason is already known

Chronic patients, in most cases, are well aware of their pathology and know why symptoms periodically occur or constantly accompany symptoms that are not attributed to direct signs of a specific disease:

, which disrupts many processes in the body: the respiratory system, kidneys, and brain suffer, as a result, a lack of oxygen and tissue hypoxia.
Diseases of the excretory system(nephritis, chronic renal failure) create conditions for the accumulation in the blood of substances that are toxic to the brain;
Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, dehydration due to acute digestive disorders (vomiting, diarrhea), characteristic of the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
Chronic infections(viral, bacterial, fungal) localized in various organs, and neuroinfections affecting brain tissue.
. Glucose is a source of energy for the body, but without insulin, it will not enter the cells (hyperglycemia). It will not get it in the right amount and with normal insulin production, but low sugar intake (hypoglycemia). Both high and low glucose levels for the body threaten with starvation, and, therefore, poor health, loss of strength and a desire to sleep more than the allotted time.
Rheumatism if glucocorticoids are used for its treatment, they reduce the activity of the adrenal glands, which cease to provide the patient with a high vital activity.
Condition after an epileptic seizure epilepsy) the patient usually falls asleep, waking up, notes lethargy, weakness, loss of strength, but he absolutely does not remember what happened to him.
Intoxication. Stunning of consciousness, loss of strength, weakness and drowsiness are often among the symptoms of exogenous (food poisoning, poisoning with toxic substances and, most often, alcohol and its surrogates) and endogenous (liver cirrhosis, acute renal and liver failure) intoxication.

Any pathological process localized in the brain, can also lead to oxygen starvation of its tissues, and, therefore, to a desire to sleep during the daytime (which is why they say that such patients often confuse day with night). Difficulty blood flow in the GM, bringing it into a state of hypoxia, diseases such as head vessels, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, dyscirculatory, brain tumor and many other diseases, which, along with their symptoms, have already been described on our website.

Sleepiness in a child

Many of the conditions listed above can cause weakness and drowsiness in a child, however you can not compare newborns, infants up to a year and older children.

Almost round-the-clock hibernation (with breaks only for feeding) in babies up to a year is happiness for parents, if the baby is healthy. During sleep, he gains strength for growth, forms a full-fledged brain and other systems that have not yet completed their development until the moment of birth.

After six months, the duration of sleep in an infant is reduced to 15-16 hours, the baby begins to be interested in the events taking place around him, shows a desire to play, so the daily need for rest will decrease every month, reaching 11-13 hours by the year.

Abnormal drowsiness in a small child can be considered if there are signs of the disease:

Loose stools whether its prolonged absence;
Dry diapers or diapers for a long time (the child has stopped urinating);
Lethargy and desire to sleep after a bruise on the head;
Pale (or even cyanotic) skin;
Fever;
Loss of interest in the voices of loved ones, lack of response to affection and stroking;
Prolonged reluctance to eat.

The appearance of one of the listed symptoms should alert the parents and force them to call an ambulance without hesitation - the child must have been in trouble.

In an older child, drowsiness is unnatural if he sleeps normally at night and nothing, as it seems at first glance, does not get sick. Meanwhile, the body of children better feels the influence of invisible adverse factors and responds accordingly. Weakness and drowsiness, loss of activity, indifference, loss of strength, along with “adult diseases” can cause:

Worm infestations;
Traumatic brain injury (), which the child preferred to keep silent about;
poisoning;
Astheno-neurotic syndrome;
Pathology of the blood system (anemia - deficient and hemolytic, some forms of leukemia);
Diseases of the digestive, respiratory, circulatory organs, pathology of the endocrine system, occurring latently, without clear clinical manifestations;
Lack of trace elements (iron, in particular) and vitamins in food;
Permanent and prolonged stay in unventilated rooms (tissue hypoxia).

Any decrease in daily activity, lethargy and drowsiness in children are signs of ill health, which should be noticed by adults and become a reason for going to the doctor, especially if the child, due to his infancy, cannot yet formulate his complaints correctly. You may only have to enrich the diet with vitamins, spend more time in the fresh air or "poison" worms. But is it still better to be safe than to overlook?

Sleepiness treatment

Treatment for drowsiness? It may be, and is, but in each specific case - a separate one, in general, this treatment of the disease that causes a person to struggle with sleep during the day.

Given the long list of causes of daytime sleepiness, there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for how to get rid of daytime sleepiness. Perhaps a person just needs to open windows more often to let in fresh air or walk outside in the evenings and spend weekends in nature. Maybe it's time to reconsider your attitude to alcohol and smoking.

It is possible that you will need to streamline the regime of work and rest, switch to a healthy diet, take vitamins or conduct ferrotherapy. And, finally, to pass tests and undergo an examination.

In any case, you don’t need to rely too much on medications, but it’s human nature to look for the easiest and shortest ways to solve all issues. So it is with daytime sleepiness, because it is better to get some kind of medicine, take it when your eyes start to stick together, and everything will pass. However, here are a few examples:

Let's say drowsiness is caused by low blood pressure (), that is, a person knows exactly the reason for his constant falling asleep. Such people, undoubtedly, more than others can afford to love coffee or strong tea, which, in general, hypotensive people do. I drank coffee - there was cheerfulness and a desire to work, but the main thing is not to overdo it. Even for patients with low blood pressure, excessive doses of these drinks and taking them in the evening may not give a very good effect. In addition, people suffering from hypotension can turn to herbal pharmaceutical products. These are tinctures of Eleutherococcus, lure, ginseng. They increase pressure and performance, give a surge of vitality and relieve daytime sleepiness.
Another common cause of drowsiness is low. In this case, we can advise you to buy only a vitamin complex in a pharmacy, and if it turns out that there is indeed iron deficiency anemia, the doctor will prescribe iron. But first, you will have to undergo an examination and establish the specific cause of the decrease in hemoglobin levels.
Or, say, hypoxia. What kind of person can be prescribed treatment if his body requires a medicine called "oxygen"? Of course, it happens that professional activity and leisure are somehow structured in such a way that a person does not get much fresh air and is overwhelmed by drowsiness for days. The only advice is to take care of the nutrition of your brain yourself. In connection with hypoxia, one cannot ignore such a bad habit as smoking. And what can be recommended in this case? Of course - quit smoking, sleep in the daytime, for sure, will be less.

It is difficult to give one recipe that satisfies everyone to combat daytime sleepiness for people with completely different problems: thyroid disease, cardiovascular pathology, respiratory or digestive diseases. It will also not be possible to prescribe the same treatment for those suffering from depression, sleep apnea or chronic fatigue syndrome. Everyone has their own problems, and, accordingly, their own therapy, so you can’t do without an examination and a doctor.

Video: drowsiness - expert opinion

Hello dear readers. The problem of constant drowsiness is familiar, probably, to everyone. Some tend to sleep only after a hearty lunch, while others fall asleep right in the middle of the working day. Of course, each organism is individual, therefore, the causes of permanent or temporary drowsiness will be different for everyone. Basically, the problem of drowsiness is attributed to any weather conditions, and this or that weather affects each person in its own way. Someone falls asleep from the excruciating summer heat, and for someone the cold is the main reason for sleep. As you know, during sleep, the body temperature rises significantly, which means that it is with the help of sleep that our body tries to warm itself. But these are only external factors that affect our condition, so you should not write off all sins only on the weather. After all, the cause of such a problem does not always lie on the surface.

In addition, the problem of constant drowsiness may occur due to any abnormalities in the body.

And this, in turn, can talk about serious diseases that are hidden under such a harmless symptom.

The reason can be anything, but this does not mean that you need to turn a blind eye to the problem of drowsiness.

Of course, if this is a temporary phenomenon that repeats itself depending on the season, then there is no reason to worry.

But if the symptom arose quite unexpectedly, and is permanent, then it is better to seek help from a specialist.

In any case, you need to listen to your body, because in this way it tries to signal any malfunctions in the operation of one of its systems.

17 reasons why you constantly want to sleep

There are quite a few reasons for such a manifestation, but most of them depend, nevertheless, on the individual characteristics of the organism. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight the common causes of such a problem.

We will be able to cope with some of them on our own, but there are also cases in which we simply cannot do without the help of a specialist.

There are two main causes of drowsiness:

Physiological.
Pathological.

Physiological drowsiness manifests itself, most often, after overwork, and it can be both physical and psychological.

And sometimes both overcome a person, and he simply falls down even at the very beginning of the day.

In this state, all the daily duties and goals of a person are dulled against the backdrop of a great desire to just lie down and take a nap.

Naturally, performance is reduced to a minimum, because the body has no strength left at all.

It is known that in a dream the human body is restored, so during an illness we can sleep at least for days. Thus, all energy will be directed only to the fight against the disease.

So, after a hard day's work, we only need rest so that the body has time to recuperate before morning.

Some people, in an effort to have time to redo everything, or to earn more money, may not sleep at night and do those things that they did not have time to do during the day.

At the same time, a person feels quite cheerful, especially when a cup of coffee is at hand.

But this state is deceptive, and after a couple of such nights, you will simply fall into a long hibernation, which will destroy all your plans for the near future.

Factors provoking the occurrence of physiological drowsiness

Sleepiness after eating

Probably, at least once in a lifetime, she defeated everyone. Moreover, it usually occurs after a hearty dinner.

The fact is that our stomach receives a fairly large amount of food after sleep, since we usually do not eat much for breakfast.

So, the digestive organs begin to work in an enhanced mode, and therefore, most of the blood flows to this system.

Thus, the brain receives an insufficient amount of oxygen, which means that sleep will be its natural reaction.

Constant lack of sleep

Of course, it may seem to us that we are already used to sleeping for 5 hours, and everything seems to be fine. And we allegedly do not notice the fatigue that is constantly with us.

But sooner or later, sleep will still overtake us, and we still have to get enough sleep. Even if it seems that such a lifestyle is not so bad, you should not think that it will not affect your health in any way.

Stress

Usually accompanied by lack of appetite and insomnia, because of which we lose the main source of energy, in addition, the body does not have time to recover.

In addition to all this, significant damage is done to our nervous system, which must also be restored at least in a dream.

This condition can last from several days to a week, after which the body itself will give a signal that it needs rest.

Pregnancy

In the first months, one of the characteristic symptoms is precisely drowsiness, which few people pay attention to, because, probably, everyone suffers from constant lack of sleep.

In the last trimester, hormones slow down the processes in the brain, which is why the woman is constantly in a sleepy state.

Day mode failure

Basically, this problem affects people working at home, because they do not have a clear framework for the working day.

Because of what they can work until late at night, and sometimes all night, as a result, it happens that a person sleeps during the day and works at night.

This may seem convenient at first, but later a slight malaise can develop into malfunctions of some body systems.

Side effects of certain drugs

If, along with the start of taking any medication, you have a symptom in the form of drowsiness, then you should immediately read the instructions for the drug.

If drowsiness reduces your performance, it is best to ask your doctor to change the prescribed drug to another one.

Insufficient sunlight or cold

Usually in the winter season it is more difficult for us to wake up in the morning, and we go to bed much earlier. This is due to the fact that it starts to get dark quite early, and the morning, due to cloudy weather, seems dark.

Causes of pathological drowsiness

If you at least roughly know what could cause constant lack of sleep, then, in general, there is nothing to worry about. After all, you can always correct the situation by organizing your daily routine.

But if drowsiness appeared on its own, and you do not see any prerequisites, then this may indicate more serious health problems that no longer appear.

Often people confuse pathological and physiological fatigue, and this happens because of a frivolous attitude to their own health.

Sometimes we just don't want to notice some minor health problem until more serious symptoms appear.

If every day you get enough sleep, but already in the afternoon you again have a desire to lie down to take a nap, then most likely this is how the body tries to tell that some malfunctions have occurred in its work.

So, our body is trying to restore its strength, because apart from this, there are no other ways. There are insidious diseases that do not manifest themselves in the early stages, and if they do, we simply do not notice these symptoms. Thus, the body tries to cope on its own, knowing that no one will help it at this stage.

Each of the diseases is life-threatening, so it's best to take it seriously. You see how simple drowsiness can speak of such terrible diseases.

Why do you always want to sleep. What to do if lethargy

Depending on the cause of drowsiness, you can try to get rid of this symptom yourself.

Of course, if the reason for the constant desire to sleep is any disease, then simple methods of dealing with sleep are unlikely to help you.

How to deal with constant sleepiness?

Here you definitely need to see a doctor who can determine the disease. Thus, you will be prescribed a treatment aimed at a specific disease, and therefore drowsiness, which is its symptom.

But if you are sure that your drowsiness and lethargy arose only due to lack of sleep or stress, then you will have to deal with it yourself.

Therefore, tips will come to your aid that will help stop the constant desire to sleep:

✔ Drink more water, because a fairly common cause of drowsiness is precisely dehydration.

✔ Drop everything and run outside to bask in the sun. Thus, you can recharge your batteries, and the light is unlikely to help you fall asleep.

✔ Physical exercise will also help to cope with drowsiness, because during their implementation, blood pressure rises, which means that we will not be able to sleep. You can do a little warm-up right at the workplace.

✔ Talk more about topics that can grab your attention. Listen to music that will make you tap your foot to the rhythm. The main thing is not to listen to classics or melancholic music, otherwise you will sleep like a baby right at your desk, or rather, on it.

✔ Eat in moderation, because it is during overeating that we tend to sleep. The body cannot cope with such a volume of food, so all its forces are focused on digestion, and the brain at this time gradually sinks into sleep.

✔ The smell of mint and citrus will definitely keep you awake, so you can purchase a couple of vials of essential oils from these plants.

✔ Eat more nuts, because they are the main source of energy, besides, such a snack will definitely not interfere with the brain.

✔ Massage your earlobes or stretch your fingers. Even such simple exercises will help to cope with annoying daytime sleep.

✔ Start cracking jokes at work on your lunch break. Colleagues will definitely appreciate your humor, and laughter will help you forget that a minute ago you really fell asleep.

Well, if your sleep is much stronger than all these methods, and you are already tired of fighting, then what remains to be done, how not to succumb to your enemy? Take a nap for 15 minutes and after that, you will definitely feel better.

Drowsiness does not always indicate fatigue or lack of sleep, so do not ignore such a symptom.

Especially if there are no prerequisites for its occurrence. Therefore, it is imperative to figure out why you constantly want to sleep. And what to do if there is constant lethargy, because a serious illness does not appear immediately, so you should not wait until it does happen.

Listen to your body, because even simple drowsiness can save you from the serious consequences of a serious illness.