Excessive daytime sleepiness
What is EDS?
Of all sleep complaints, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the most common. While it is a telltale sign that you may not be getting adequate restorative sleep, it is very often overlooked as a sign that you may have a sleep disorder. In other words, it may be a sign that you are at risk for potentially serious health problems, like hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart attack.
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The other dangers of EDS.
In addition to the serious health implications associated with clinical sleep, being excessively sleepy during the day can put you at significant risk. Daytime sleepiness interferes with the daily activities of 43% of adults a few days out of every month, including activities that are inherently dangerous, such as driving, certain types of work and much more. But the risk is not limited to the person experiencing EDS. Driving, work or other types of accidents put the health and lives of others at risk. Less serious, but also a very real concern, is that EDS can cause poor performance at work or school and can have a negative impact on personal relationships.
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Diagnosing & treating EDS.
In the U.S., sleep disorders affect as many as 70 million people, and EDS is often the primary presenting complaint. But it’s still very common for people to think that being tired, fatigued or excessively sleepy is normal. In truth, EDS is a symptom of many clinical sleep disorders, and diagnosing the exact cause and disorder is a subtle science. But the dangers that EDS poses make that diagnosis critical. At
Midwest Chest Consultants in St. Charles, Missouri, our experienced
sleep physicians are able to diagnose the cause of your daytime sleepiness. And as an accredited sleep center, this also means we are skilled and qualified to treat your underlying sleep problem so you can get a restful night’s sleep and be productive, alert and safe during the day.
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