Do you feel drowsy during the day? Neurologist Dr Carl explains possible causes – Gulf News

Do you have trouble keeping your eyes open at work? Does an overpowering urge for shut-eye strike you when you drive? Or are you guilty of dozing off during a conversation?

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time you did something about it. As it turns out, the condition – drowsiness – is becoming all too common these days. But it can be ill-ignored as it is often a sign of a deeper problem. […]

Sleep disorders

Dr Carl Ramberg, neurologist at the German Neuroscience Centre, said drowsiness during the day is most commonly the result of a sleep disorder during the night.

The most common of these disorders are insomnia and sleep apnea, with rare instances of restless leg syndrome and narcolepsia.

“The key to fighting drowsiness is to get a good night’s sleep. It is important that we are disciplined and maintain sleep hygiene. Often, cognitive therapy is sufficient to treat insomnia and drowsiness.”

He said, “There are six recommendations here: don’t go to sleep before you feel sleepy; do not use the bed for anything other than sleep; go to another room if you don’t fall asleep within 15-20 minutes; repeat this until you feel sleepy; don’t sleep during the day; and wake up at the same time every day.”

Other tips include avoiding sleep medications, caffeine and alcohol.

The full article was originally published in Gulf News XPRESS July 11, 2018