How to avoid daytime sleepiness

We all have those days when we dream of crawling back to bed and pulling the covers over our heads. But if daytime sleepiness is more the norm than the exception, you might want to read on.

Causes of daytime sleepiness

Excessive daytime sleepiness will often interfere with work, study, relationships and daily activities. It can also make driving or operating machinery quite dangerous. Those who suffer from it report that they feel drowsy and sluggish most days.

The most common causes of daytime sleepiness are sleep deprivation, obstructive sleep apnoea, and medications that cause drowsiness.

However, other, less common medical conditions may contribute.

Tips to avoid daytime sleepiness

The best way to ensure you’re not feeling sleepy during the day is to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis. The following will help you do this:

• Get enough sleep — most adults need 7-9 hours sleep each night
• Remove distractions — reserve your bedroom for sleep and intimacy; avoid other activities like watching TV, eating, playing video games, or using electronic devices
• Be regular — go to bed and wake up at the same time, even on weekends, to help set your body’s sleeping rhythm
• Eat light — don’t overeat before bedtime and avoid foods that can interfere with sleep such as fatty, spicy or fried foods
• Avoid alcohol — alcohol can interfere with your sleep
• Avoid stimulants — tea, coffee, caffeine, nicotine and other drugs act as stimulants and will prevent you from sleeping well
• Move more — regular exercise has been shown to improve your sleep quality
• Relax before bed — engage in relaxing activities before bed such as reading, listening to music or taking a bath
• Avoid naps — avoid napping as this can make it harder for you to get to sleep at night.

When should you be concerned?

Most of the time, there is no need to be concerned about daytime sleepiness if you know you’re sleep deprived. The same goes, if you’re taking medications that cause you to feel drowsy. However, if you’re frequently tired, less productive at work, make mistakes or lapses in judgement and have trouble concentrating, visit your doctor, to make sure there isn’t an underlying medical condition.

Similarly, if your partner complains about excessive or loud snoring,  chat to your doctor as this could be a sign of sleep apnoea.

Let us help

Sometimes  sleeping on a mattress that doesn’t give you the support that you need, or has seen better days can make it difficult to sleep well. At BedGuard, we specialise in bariatric and waterproof mattresses designed to help you sleep soundly all night long.

All of our mattresses are antibacterial, hypo-allergenic, stain resistant, odour resistant and dust mite resistant, which means your mattress will last longer. If you’re ready to upgrade your mattress, come in and see us or browse our range online. We’d love to help you.