Irene Jacobson, 59, is making the most of her life. Since going through a divorce several years ago, the retired English professor has been dating, traveling, and having more fun than ever. Until recently, however, there was one problem: She was tired all the time. “No matter how much I slept, I never felt rested,” says Jacobson, who lives in Washington, D.C.  “I had trouble falling asleep, so I would lie in bed for hours watching television and dozing off when I could.”

Until recently, Leonardo Soto, a 34-year-old software developer in Nashville, Tenn., also suffered from chronic drowsiness. “I could fall asleep anytime, anywhere,” says Soto, who is single. “I’ve heard of people falling asleep at red lights, but I actually fell asleep at stop signs.”

Too tired for sex?
Most people feel sleepy occasionally, but tiredness that persists despite allowing time for adequate sleep is neither normal nor healthy. Being sleepy is especially dangerous if you’re behind the wheel, of course, but chronic sleepiness also affects mood, work performance, and cognitive abilities. It can also affect relationships, making us too irritable to socialize and too tired for sex.

Daytime sleepiness may be caused by a number of factors, including shift work, poor sleep habits or sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy, a neurological sleep disorder. It may also be caused by physical illnesses, mood disorders, or the medications used to treat them.

Breaking bad habits
For Jacobson, sleepiness was caused by insomnia related to poor sleep hygiene, a set of habits and behaviors that affect sleep and daytime alertness.

 Jacobson’s doctor instructed her to keep to a regular sleep schedule, eliminate naps, and remove the television from her bedroom. He explained that while TV can allow the body to relax, it keeps the mind active.

Adjusting to the changes took a few weeks, but the pay-off was worth it. “I had gotten used to doing everything from bed,” she says. “Now my sleep is vastly improved, and I’m rarely tired during the day anymore.”

When breathing stops
For Soto, daytime sleepiness was caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder characterized by loud snoring and breathing pauses during sleep. OSA occurs when muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, despite efforts to breathe.

Soto was prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which involves wearing a mask that blows air into the throat to keep the airway open during sleep. With CPAP, Soto felt better almost immediately.  

“Many patients are in denial about their snoring and daytime sleepiness,” notes Jerrold A. Kram, MD, medical director of the California Center for Sleep Disorders in Alameda. “They get used to being sleepy and accept it as normal—not realizing that they have sleep apnea.”

How much sleep is enough?
Although people vary in their need for sleep, experts agree that the amount required to feel one’s best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night for most middle-aged adults. Teens and young adults usually need at least nine hours of sleep nightly.  

If you suffer from sleepiness that persists for more than three weeks despite spending an adequate amount of time in bed, discuss the problem with your doctor. For more information about sleep and sleep disorders, visit www.sleepfoundation.org [2].