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If you have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea, and still feel tired during the day, you are not alone. And we're not talking about, "I need another cup of coffee" tired. We're talking about a different kind of tired. We're talking about excessive daytime sleepiness related to sleep apnea.
Excessive daytime sleepiness related to sleep apnea can go undiagnosed for years because people might not recognize their symptoms or are using things like caffeine to attempt to stay awake. Coffee is not the answer.
If you have sleep apnea and think you may have excessive daytime sleepiness, you should see a health care professional to discuss your symptoms. Typically, neurologists, sleep specialists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists or primary care physicians can help.
Your health care professional will likely use the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which is a common tool used to evaluate how tired a person is during the day.
There are! Wake-promoting agents, which are prescription medications that help you feel awake during the day, can be added to your sleep apnea treatment program.
