Which factor may contribute to a patients fatigue and insomnia from abusing alcohol
Hypersomnia, which refers to either excessive daytime sleepiness or excessive time spent sleeping, is a condition in which a person has trouble staying awake during the day. People who have hypersomnia can fall asleep at any time -- for instance, at work or while they are driving. They may also have other sleep-related problems, including a lack of energy and trouble thinking clearly. According to the National
Sleep Foundation, up to 40% of people have some symptoms of hypersomnia from time to time. There are several potential causes of hypersomnia, including: If you consistently feel drowsy during the day, talk to your doctor. In making a diagnosis of hypersomnia, your doctor will ask you about your sleeping habits, how much sleep you get at night, if you wake up at night, and whether you fall asleep during the day. Your doctor will also want to know if you are having any emotional problems or are taking any drugs that may be interfering with your sleep. Your
doctor may also order some tests, including blood tests, computed tomography (CT) scans, and a sleep test called polysomnography. In some cases, an additional electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures the electrical activity of the brain, is needed. If you are diagnosed with hypersomnia, your doctor can prescribe various drugs to treat it, including stimulants, antidepressants, as well as several newer medications (for example,
Provigil, Wakix, Xyrem, and Xywav). If you are diagnosed with
sleep apnea, your doctor may prescribe a treatment known as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. With
CPAP, you wear a mask over your nose while you are sleeping. A machine that delivers a continuous flow of air into the nostrils is hooked up to the mask. The pressure from air flowing into the nostrils helps keep the airways open. If you are taking a medication that causes drowsiness, ask your doctor about changing to one that is less likely to
make you sleepy. You may also want to go to bed earlier to try to get more sleep at night, and eliminate alcohol and caffeine. OverviewInsomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. You may still feel tired when you wake up. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood but also your health, work performance and quality of life. How much sleep is enough varies from person to person, but most adults need seven to eight hours a night. At some point, many adults experience short-term (acute) insomnia, which lasts for days or weeks. It's usually the result of stress or a traumatic event. But some people have long-term (chronic) insomnia that lasts for a month or more. Insomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other medical conditions or medications. You don't have to put up with sleepless nights. Simple changes in your daily habits can often help. SymptomsInsomnia symptoms may include:
When to see a doctorIf insomnia makes it hard for you to function during the day, see your doctor to identify the cause of your sleep problem and how it can be treated. If your doctor thinks you could have a sleep disorder, you might be referred to a sleep center for special testing. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements,
health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as
protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. CausesInsomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other conditions. Chronic insomnia is usually a result of stress, life events or habits that disrupt sleep. Treating the underlying cause can resolve the insomnia, but sometimes it can last for years. Common causes of chronic insomnia include:
Chronic insomnia may also be associated with medical conditions or the use of certain drugs. Treating the medical condition may help improve sleep, but the insomnia may persist after the medical condition improves. Additional common causes of insomnia include:
Insomnia and agingInsomnia becomes more common with age. As you get older, you may experience:
Insomnia in children and teensSleep problems may be a concern for children and teenagers as well. However, some children and teens simply have trouble getting to sleep or resist a regular bedtime because their internal clocks are more delayed. They want to go to bed later and sleep later in the morning. Risk factorsNearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night. But your risk of insomnia is greater if:
ComplicationsSleep is as important to your health as a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Whatever your reason for sleep loss, insomnia can affect you both mentally and physically. People with insomnia report a lower quality of life compared with people who are sleeping well. Complications of insomnia may include:
PreventionGood sleep habits can help prevent insomnia and promote sound sleep:
Oct. 15, 2016 What causes insomnia in alcoholics?Alcohol can increase the quantity of non-REM sleep during the first half of the night, but it decreases REM sleep in the second half. During the final hours of sleep when alcohol is metabolized by the body, it can have a disruptive effect on sleep, causing frequent waking and fragmented sleep.
What are some of the factors that contribute to insomnia?Stress, bereavement, unfamiliar sleep environment, jet lag, shift work, bed partner or a poor sleeping environment (noise, temperature, light or a poor sleeping surface).
Which effects on sleep can be attributed to alcohol use?Alcohol abuse and dependence are associated with chronic sleep disturbance, lower slow wave sleep, and more rapid eye movement sleep than normal, that last long into periods of abstinence and may play a role in relapse.
How does high alcohol consumption and alcoholism affect sleep?Alcohol has sedative effects that can induce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness2, but the consumption of alcohol – especially in excess – has been linked to poor sleep quality and duration. People with alcohol use disorders commonly experience insomnia symptoms.
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