Feeling Sleepy In Daytime?

(CBS)  If you are among the estimated 40 percent of Americans who say they often feel drowsy during the day, you may be at risk from some more serious problems that are worth investigating, Dr. Emily Senay reports.

The most obvious reason for daytime drowsiness is lack of sleep, which can have a variety of causes. The following are just a few:

• As we age our internal clock often shifts forward, so we fall asleep and wake up very early. Chronic pain like arthritis or back pain can keep us from falling asleep.
  
  
• Incontinence, heartburn, breathing problems like asthma, the hot flashes of menopause, or emotional problems like depression can often interfere with sleep.
  
  
• And sleep apnea - where the throat keeps closing temporarily during sleep - prevents deep sleep as well.

Treating these disorders with the help of a doctor may be the key to getting more shut-eye. An adult needs eight hours a night. Performance in several areas declines when people get fewer than eight hours of sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Effects

Problem-solving and verbal skills, reaction time, and stamina all decline when people don't get enough sleep. They're more likely to become irritable. Sleep deprivation can cause potentially harmful hormonal and immune-system changes that over time can cause problems ranging from insulin resistance to weight gain.

Some medications can also cause drowsiness. Or it may also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Conditions such as anemia, cancer, congestive heart failure, fibromyalgia, hepatitis or other infections, hypothyroidism, lupus, mononucleosis, and chronic stress - can sap your energy without interfering with sleep.

If you're sleepy during the day despite good sleep habits, ask your doctor whether any disorder may contribute to the problem. Also ask about any drug or combination of drugs you take regularly which might cause drowsiness.

To try to get a better night's sleep, Dr. Senay has the following recommendations:

• Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Don't nap during the day.
  
  
• Schedule your exercise a few hours before bed.
  
  
• Take a hot bath before bed.
  
  
• Block out disturbances by using a sleep mask, earplugs.
  
  
• Avoid liquids before bed, especially those containing caffeine or alcohol, which disrupt sleep patterns.
  
  
• Try to relax and not think about your worries before bed.
  
  
• And don't force it. If you don't drift off to sleep within a half hour or you keep waking up, get up and do something relaxing until you feel drowsy.

If lack of sleep is a chronic problem that lasts for more than two or three weeks, then you should see a doctor for help.