Sleepiness can appear for many reasons and, although it is generally not a serious problem, excessive sleepiness during the day can cause some health problems such as fatigue, exhaustion and lack of concentration, but above all, accidents at work and on the road. That is why it is important to avoid drowsiness and stay awake. Obviously, the main trigger for that feeling of fatigue during the day is poor quality sleep.
Causes of sleepiness
- If during the day you feel very sleepy, exhausted, have trouble concentrating and can barely keep your eyes open, it may be due to one of the sleep disorders. The most frequent are sleep apnea, insomnia and narcolepsy, which although they are very different diseases, the result is the same: a poor quality of sleep that prevents you from resting properly.
- Although the truth is that lack of sleep can be due to many causes. Sometimes it is related to a heart problem, obesity or diabetes, but also with depressive states, anxiety and stress. There are also medications that cause drowsiness, and studies show that excess calcium and vitamin D deficiency can cause drowsiness.
- In this way, the treatment to alleviate daytime sleepiness will vary depending on the cause, so it is necessary to consult a doctor and perform the necessary tests, such as blood and urine tests. In any case, the first step is to admit that sleeping well is essential for our health and to start maintaining lifestyle habits that allow us to improve the quality of our sleep.
How to avoid drowsiness
- We already know that to keep the most common sleep disorders at bay we have to avoid stimulating drinks late in the afternoon, that there are foods that help us sleep better, that we have to learn to relax and leave problems out of bed, that a little physical exercise promotes rest and that having a regular sleep schedule is the best antidote against insomnia.
- But there are also some tricks that can help us stay awake when sleepiness appears during the day. They say that brushing your teeth often clears up, just like washing your hands frequently, especially affecting the area of the wrists. Throwing some cold water on our faces not only helps to keep us awake, but also keeps the skin smoother. Another trick that they say works is to pull the earlobe, although the best solution to not fall asleep and pay attention is to be in good company.
- Keep in mind that copious meals favor the appearance of drowsiness, so now you have one more reason to eat less. And boredom is the worst enemy of your ability to focus, so try to do things that fill you up so you can stay focused, entertained, and keep that sleepy feeling away.