Sleep Disorder Treatment in Delhi

Professional Summer Internship

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or EDS, is a common health problem among general public, and is characterized by abnormal sleep quantity or quality because of various psychological, neurological, cardiac or pulmonary issues. EDS, not only results in compromised cognitive performance, but could also cause health issues such as obesity, and depression. It is, therefore, imperative that you identify the symptoms of this condition in time, and opt for a comprehensive sleep disorder treatment, in Delhi or elsewhere. To help, Psyway offers an insight into the common causes and symptoms of EDS in this post. Take a look.

Distinguishing EDS from Hypersomnia
First, it is very easy to confuse Excessive daytime sleepiness with hypersomnia, because of similar symptoms. EDS, however, is defined as the excessive need to sleep during the day, while Hypersomnia refers to the increased need for sleep during the entire 24-hour period. When a patient, thus complains of an excessive need to sleep during a specific period, the next step for the psychiatrist, is to establish whether the patient is experiencing a disruption in the anticipated sleep pattern, or needs a greater amount of sleep during a 24-hour period. Eventually, psychiatrists rely on polysomnography to fully identify the quality and quantity of sleep.

Causes
Excessive daytime sleepiness often could result from having insufficient sleep during the regular sleep hours. This irregular sleep pattern could emerge from a number of reasons such as self-imposed or socially dictated sleep restriction, or an underlying comorbidity such as depression, pain, or medical illness. Let us take a closer look at these causes in detail- Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders cause fragmentation of sleep or a reduction in the total sleep time, and therefore, result in EDS. Such disorders may include:

● Sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep-related hypoventilation/hypoxemia syndromes or central sleep apnea
● Sleep-related movement disorders such as periodic limb movement disorder or restless legs syndrome
● Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders such as delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, and advanced sleep-wake phase disorder

Medical Conditions
Certain neurological conditions such as Parkinson disease, myotonic dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis could result in EDS. In addition, certain genetic disorders such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Niemann-Pick type C, and medical conditions such as obesity, hypothyroidism, and hepatic encephalopathy have been associated with an excessive need to sleep during the daytime.
Psychiatric Conditions
Psychiatrists also associate excessive daytime sleepiness disorder with certain psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder, when they are not able to explain the issue by medication use, any known medical condition, or substance abuse

Medications and Substance Abuse
There are a number of medications that can contribute to EDS. The most common classes of medications that can cause EDS include benzodiazepines, antihistamines, nonbenzodiazepine sedatives, anticonvulsants, sedating antidepressants, opioid analgesics, and antipsychotics. In addition, drugs of abuse such as alcohol, narcotics, and stimulant withdrawal can also cause EDS in some patients.

Symptoms
According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders-2, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness can be described as a state, subjectively reported by the patient, which is characterized by an increased difficulty in maintaining alertness and wakefulness during the daytime. This state is followed by a rapid entrance into sleep when sedentary. The severity of EDS depends upon the level of daytime impairment and dysfunction, and its frequency.

Wrapping Up
Sleep disorder such as EDS and psychiatric conditions often coexist. Thus, patients with psychiatric illness often complain of insufficient sleep or an excess of sleepiness during the 24-hour period. If left undiagnosed and untreated, excessive daytime sleepiness may result in a decreased quality of life along with the patient’s inability to maintain personal and public safety. Therefore, it is necessary to timely contact an experienced psychiatrist and undergo a comprehensive sleep disorder treatment, when experiencing any difficulty with regular sleep.