Frequent yawning or sleepiness during the day may be more dangerous than people realize, say sleep experts.
A new position paper by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) warns that excessive daytime sleepiness could signal a serious sleep deficit, reports CNN.
Dr. Eric Olson, AASM president and sleep specialist at the Mayo Clinic in the US, says sleepiness is a serious health issue.
It can lead to car crashes, workplace mistakes, and long-term health problems.
Lack of sleep has been linked to conditions such as diabetes, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and stroke.
Experts say signs like yawning or nodding off during meetings shouldn’t be ignored.
She advises anyone experiencing regular daytime sleepiness to talk to their doctor.
Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a sleep medicine professor at Penn Medicine in the US, warns that sleep-deprived people often misjudge how impaired they are. She says people may feel fine, but tests show slower reaction times, poor memory, and reduced coordination.
Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to “microsleeps” — brief periods when the brain shuts down for a few seconds.
To measure sleepiness, doctors use tools like the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. It asks how likely a person is to fall asleep in quiet situations like watching TV or reading. Scores above 10 may indicate a serious sleep problem.
Symptoms of severe sleep deprivation include droopy eyelids, slumped posture, vertigo, and shaky hands. It may also cause poor decision-making and impulsive behavior.
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia can contribute to excessive sleepiness. Lifestyle factors like caffeine, alcohol, marijuana, and poor sleep hygiene also play a role. Experts say avoiding alcohol and improving sleep habits can make a big difference in sleep quality.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
