So many of us find ourselves exhausted after trying to fit everything into the little time we have in a day. But when is it time to talk to your doctor about your tiredness? If you can’t cure your sleepiness with a couple of solid nights’ sleep, and you’re becoming irritable or forgetful, it might be time to consult a healthcare professional.
It is estimated that 18 percent of adults suffer from excessive sleepiness, also known as hypersomnia. This is when your sleepiness is so severe that it affects your day-to-day life, despite having had a normal amount of sleep. The bottom line is that no matter how much sleep you get, you’re still tired.
To find out if you are suffering from hypersomnia, your doctor or a sleep expert will ask you about your sleeping habits.
Your answers can help your doctor work out whether or not your sleepiness is caused by your sleep habits or other behavioral factors, or by a disorder such as sleep apnoea.
Your doctor might send you for a polysomnography, or sleep test. This will allow him or her to better understand your condition and work out an appropriate treatment plan to help you recover.
