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Questions And Answers

Why Do I Keep Falling Asleep When I Sit Down or Watch TV?

Last Updated on February 11, 2024 by Louise Carter

Do you find it difficult to stay awake or nod off right after lunch, even after a full night’s sleep?

Scientists refer to this as Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (hypersomnia). It’s surprisingly common among people who dedicate 8-9 hours to their sleep routine. It isn’t just about being tired.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and prolonged fatigue during the day may be due to idiopathic hypersomnia, narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, or fibromyalgia.

According to the Journal of Thoracic Disease, about 18% of people are affected by excessive drowsiness.

While fatigue is often associated with low energy levels, oversleepiness can make you feel so exhausted that it affects your work, social life, and relationships.

Why Do I Fall Asleep During the Daytime?

Many different medical issues contribute to Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. Therefore, you must talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms to receive treatment.

Sleep disorders or nutrient deficiencies can leave you chronically tired every day, making you crave more sleep at inopportune times.

However, some disorders cause perpetual drowsiness, with no known cause, making you fall asleep in your chair despite getting 8 hours of sleep at night.

The following conditions may cause Excessive Daytime Sleepiness:

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Imagine living in constant sleepiness, even if you sleep the recommended hours.

You feel the need to take frequent naps, and you never feel rested or recharged, no matter how much you sleep. If this sounds like you, you may have idiopathic hypersomnia.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a symptom of idiopathic hypersomnia, which means excessive sleepiness (hypersomnia) with no identifiable cause (idiopathic).

The condition is characterized by the need for sleep, even longer than 10 hours at a time—people with idiopathic hypersomnia report feeling sleepy constantly and not experiencing restorative sleep.

Although the cause is unknown, some experts believe it may be due to a nervous system disorder. Unfortunately, there’s no known cause or treatment available.

However, if you’re taking amphetamine-based drugs, you can manage the symptoms with sleep hygiene practices like maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and not taking stimulants like caffeine.

why do i fall asleep when i sit down in the evening?

Narcolepsy

Some of us fall asleep in the middle of a movie or boring lecture, but it’s unusual to fall asleep while driving, eating a meal, or in the middle of a conversation. However, this is common with narcolepsy.

The condition causes you to fall asleep suddenly, often at inconvenient times. The symptoms of narcolepsy include:

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness.
  • Falling asleep suddenly, without knowing, in usual conditions.
  • Vivid dreams.
  • Sleep paralysis.
  • Cataplexy (loss of muscle tone) makes narcolepsy different from idiopathic hypersomnia.

Although there’s no cure, your doctor may recommend medication to manage the symptoms. You may also benefit from better sleep hygiene and regular exercise.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea causes individuals to wake frequently from their sleep. Often, these people don’t know they’re waking up, which can cause unexpected tiredness during the daytime.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects over 20 million adults in the U.S., making it the most common sleep disorder. Apnea means cessation of breathing.

Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing periodically at night, each pause lasting 10-20 seconds. People with sleep apnea may experience cessations up to 100 times per night.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to a blockage of the upper respiratory airways.

The condition causes the throat muscles to collapse and the tongue to fall back into the airways. It may also occur due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids that inhibit airflow to the lungs.

During an obstructive sleep apnea episode, the brain awakens to ensure the respiratory system continues functioning. People with sleep apnea often don’t realize they have the condition until a bed partner notices their interrupted breathing patterns and informs them.

The poor sleep quality that results from multiple arousals throughout the night to remove the airway obstruction and breathe properly makes daytime sleepiness the most common symptom.

Mild Anemia

Anemia is a condition that occurs due to low hemoglobin levels, excessive blood loss, not getting enough iron in your diet, or when your body can’t absorb enough iron.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs and delivers it to the rest of the body. Anemia causes the tissues to receive insufficient oxygen due to a low blood cell count or a condition that drops your hemoglobin count.

When the body doesn’t have enough hemoglobin to deliver oxygen, the heart must work harder to ensure that vital organs receive adequate oxygen.

Because anemia makes the heart work harder, it causes people to feel tired, even after a full night’s sleep.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia, but it can be improved by eating more iron-rich foods. Some good sources of iron include:

  • Lean meat.
  • Poultry.
  • Fish.
  • Eggs.
  • Dairy.
  • Legumes.
  • Nuts and seeds.
  • Prunes.
  • Dark leafy greens.

A doctor can check if you have anemia, find the cause, and form a plan to raise your hemoglobin levels.

Hypothyroidism

Are you frequently tired, having trouble focusing, gaining weight, or staying up?

The thyroid gland produces hormones regulating metabolism, temperature, and other functions.

Hypothyroidism is a thyroid disorder characterized by the body producing too few thyroid hormones. It could be one reason you feel sleepy or lethargic all the time.

Many factors, including iodine deficiency, autoimmune disease, or the overtreatment of hyperthyroidism, can cause hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is more common in women than men. Other symptoms include coldness, constipation, weight gain, mental fog, and difficulty concentrating.

Hypothyroidism can be difficult to manage, as eating can interfere with the treatment.

Some nutrients can affect the thyroid gland function, impairing the body’s ability to absorb replacement hormones, which will be part of your thyroid treatment. Foods to avoid during treatment include:

  • Soy products (tofu, miso, and tempeh). People with hypothyroidism and iodine deficiencies should monitor their soy intake because too much can interfere with thyroid medication absorption.
  • Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) contain nutrients that may affect thyroid production and its ability to use iodine.
  • Fried food. Fats from butter, fried food, and meat cuts can inhibit thyroid medication absorption.
  • Sugar. Hypothyroidism slows down the metabolism, causing obesity. Avoid sugar because it contains no nutrients and is notorious for causing weight gain.
  • Processed food. Packed foods are often high in salt (sodium). Hypothyroidism increases the risk of high blood pressure, and too much sodium can worsen the situation.
  • Caffeine hinders the absorption of thyroid hormone replacement. Don’t start the day with coffee.
  • Alcohol affects thyroid hormone production and thyroid hormone absorption during treatment.

Premenstrual Syndrome

It is expected that you will experience insomnia during or before your monthly period. During the premenstrual phase, your body may produce lower melatonin levels, which regulate sleep and respond to dark and light.

Your sleep stages may be affected during your menstrual phase as the period of deep sleep, also called slow-wave sleep (SWS), increases. This causes daytime fatigue that may cause you to yawn all day.

If you find yourself falling asleep in the daytime before or during your period, do the following:

  • Nap. Taking a 15-minute nap during your lunch break can boost your productivity.
  • Stretch frequently. Stand on your toes, lock your hands, and stretch upwards as far as possible.
  • Refreshing drink. Peppermint or lemongrass tea can lift your mood and make you feel more awake.
  • Deep breathing. When you breathe deeply, you deliver oxygen to the brain, waking you up. You can also incorporate deep breathing into your workout, especially when warming up.
  • Sun. If you work indoors all day, open the windows and get out whenever possible.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a pain in the body accompanied by fatigue, emotional problems, and sleeping issues. People with fibromyalgia report waking up too early, having trouble falling asleep, or maintaining sleep.

The condition disrupts the natural phases of your sleep cycle, particularly your deep sleep stage. When your body doesn’t get enough deep sleep, it may not feel well-rested, resulting in fatigue and daytime sleepiness.

Although fibromyalgia has no cure, doctors can manage the pain and fatigue that keep you awake.

Mild-to-Moderate Depression

Depression can cause you to feel sleepy in the daytime, along with symptoms like low energy, despair, insomnia, nightmares, waking up frequently at night, difficulty focusing, etc.

Depression can be mentally and physically debilitating, causing fatigue and sleepiness that may not even be caused by having sleep issues at night.

Along with treatment measures recommended by a doctor, you can make lifestyle changes to reduce daytime sleepiness, such as:

  • Find an exercise you enjoy and do for at least 30 minutes, 5 times per week.
  • Spending some time outside every day and going for short walks.
  • Talking to a friend or family member that you trust.
  • Practicing self-care techniques, such as taking care of your hair and skin, taking Epsom salt baths, and regularly using essential oils for aromatherapy.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

This is a severe premenstrual syndrome that occurs during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle.

The luteal phase occurs 10-14 days before your period and may make you feel different, even though you feel normal for the rest of the month.

You may also experience mood swings, irritability, exhaustion, drowsiness, bloating, and joint pain. These symptoms disappear as soon as your period starts.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This condition causes constant fatigue, which can severely interfere with daily responsibilities. Viral diseases like Lyme disease usually cause chronic fatigue syndrome.

Some people may have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. While symptoms may be similar, they’re not the same and will require different treatment methods.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)

The condition causes your legs, and sometimes your arms, to move involuntarily during sleep.

This movement can be substantial enough to wake you up in the middle of the night, causing frequent sleep disturbances that affect your sleep quality. The disorder affects your natural sleep cycle, causing you to feel sleepy and tired during the daytime.

Although the direct cause of PLMD hasn’t been determined yet, it may be genetic or associated with central nervous system issues or anemia.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

RLS causes a twitching or tingling sensation in the legs or an urge to move them while asleep.

The condition causes frequent sleep disturbances because, despite being still, the legs have sensations of persistent activity. The vexing, aching, and urge to move only subsides when you move around.

RLS can affect your sleep patterns, resulting in persistent fatigue that inhibits your daily functions.

It’s common during pregnancy and may be exacerbated by certain medications. This will likely be allergy drugs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Stimulants like tobacco, drinking alcohol, or frequently consuming coffee may worsen the condition.

falling asleep on sofa every night

Poor Sleep Hygiene

Proper sleep hygiene refers to the habits you practice before going to bed.

Some good sleep hygiene practices you can introduce include:

  • Sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on weekends.
  • Not drinking alcohol. Alcohol affects your normal sleep cycle and the quality of your sleep.
  • No coffee. Caffeine can stay active in the body for 8 hours or more, preventing you from sleeping.
  • Avoid sleeping pills. Sleeping pills result in a lower quality of sleep.
  • Not eating. Eat at least 3 hours before bedtime to prevent heartburn and bloating. Here are some of the best sleeping positions for digestive problems.
  • Not using blue light devices. Restrict the use of cell phones, computers, and TVs before bedtime.
  • Avoid long daytime naps. While a 30-minute nap can energize you, sleeping too long in the daytime can prevent you from falling asleep at night.
  • Not exercising. Perform workouts in the early morning or afternoon, as working out can increase your adrenaline levels and heart rate, making you feel alert for hours.
  • Bedding setup. Use clean and comfortable bedding and pillow covers
  • No drying clothes. Don’t let clothes dry on a radiator in your bedroom.

Sleep Deprivation

You may be sleep deprived because you recently pulled an all-nighter or routinely get improper sleep. You need 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

Not getting even the bare minimum of 7 hours can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, which can affect one’s performance at work or school.

The solution for sleep deprivation is a schedule that allows you to fit in more sleep. Also, it helps to practice sleep hygiene habits to get quality sleep.

Insomnia Disorder

Around 40 million people in America report experiencing insomnia annually. Insomnia isn’t just one condition because there are different classes and types.

If you find that you’re tired and unable to fall asleep, this may be due to sleep-onset insomnia. Alternatively, if you fall asleep but can’t maintain your sleep, you may have maintenance insomnia.

Some common causes of insomnia include:

  • Anxiety, depression, and other stress-related issues.
  • Acid reflux, chronic pain, or other medical problems.
  • Irregular work shifts.
  • Use of stimulants, like nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine.
  • Alcohol consumption before bedtime.

Having insomnia during stressful events or while traveling is common. In most cases, this type of insomnia usually goes away without medical intervention.

Conditions like narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, sleep apnea, depression, and nutritional deficiencies require lifestyle modifications and medical assistance.