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15 Nonprescription sleeping pills and other medications containing sedating H1 antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Atarax, brand no longer available in the United States), or triprolidine (Zymine) are also commonly used.
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9, 10 Reduced cognitive function related to excessive daytime sleepiness can affect the ability to gain or maintain employment, because patients with excessive daytime sleepiness may be misperceived as lazy or unmotivated.Įthanol is the most widely used agent with sedative effects.
#Sleepy all the time professional
8 It has also been associated with compromised professional performance, including that of physicians and judges. 7 Daytime sleepiness has been linked to poor health on several standardized measurements, including impairment in all domains of the Medical Outcomes Study short form health survey (36 items). 6 Sleepy adolescents also have significantly lower levels of academic performance, increased school tardiness, and lower graduation rates than other students. 5 Most sleep-related crashes involve adolescent and young adult male drivers.
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#Sleepy all the time driver
4 According to the National Transportation Safety Board, up to 52 percent of single vehicle crashes involving heavy trucks are fatigue-related, with the driver falling asleep in 17.6 percent of cases. Sleep problems contribute to more than 100,000 motor vehicle incidents that result in 71,000 personal injuries and 1,500 deaths annually. The evaluation and management of excessive daytime sleepiness is based on the identification and treatment of underlying conditions (particularly obstructive sleep apnea), and the appropriate use of activating medications.Įxcessive daytime sleepiness can have diverse and serious consequences. An estimated 26 to 32 percent of adults are at risk of or have obstructive sleep apnea, and the prevalence is expected to increase. Obstructive sleep apnea is a particularly significant cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Other potential causes of excessive daytime sleepiness include certain medical and psychiatric conditions and sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy. The most common causes of excessive daytime sleepiness are sleep deprivation, obstructive sleep apnea, and sedating medications. Persons with excessive daytime sleepiness are at risk of motor vehicle and work-related incidents, and have poorer health than comparable adults.
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Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the most common sleep-related patient symptoms, and it affects an estimated 20 percent of the population.
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