Epworth Sleepiness Scale - 1: Fill & Download for Free

Sleep quantity is important. On average, humans require 7 hours of sleep for "normal" daytime functioning (in parenthesis coz what's considered normal depends on the person); for some 6 hours and for a minority 5 hours of sleep is "normal". For me it's 7.5 hours: if I get only 6 I will not be able to stay alert at work and drowsiness will keep on "intruding" forcing me to drink more coffee: 3-4 cups instead of my usual 1-2 cups/day). Most nights I get my 7.5 hours; if not I have to make up with a long nap on the weekend.Sleep quality is also important. There are 3 stages of sleep: light NREM sleep, deep NREM sleep, and REM sleep. Drowsiness is considered as stage 1 NREM sleep, but it is probably more like a transitional state than real sleep. The ideal sleep is one where the person gets enough of it (7 hours for most people) and to spend enough time in each of the 3 stages of sleep. Somebody who is spending a large amount of time in Stage 1 (at the expense of deep sleep/REM sleep) is not getting good quality sleep. Unfortunately, only a sleep study is able to detect this.You know you are getting the right quantity and quality of sleep if you feel "fresh" when you wake up (no sleep inertia) and if you are alert the whole day- not necessarily hyperalert but just normally alert. For those, who take midday naps (by habit) the naps should be counted as well. Inadequate sleep may result in excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). A commonly used clinical method for detecting and quantifying EDS is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Here's a link: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

A2AThe feeling that you "need to sleep all the time" may or may not be due to a lack of sleep. If it is due to a lack of sleep, we call it excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or somnolence. One way of telling (roughly) if you have EDS is to fill out this questionnaire called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (clink the hyperlink). This is a validated clinical tool for determining the presence of EDS and for estimating the degree of EDS.Interpretation of ESS:1 - 6 Congratulations, you are getting enough sleep!7 - 8 Your score is average9 and up - Seek the advice of a sleep specialist without delayMore details about ESS: What the Epworth Sleepiness Scale is and how to use it.My gut feeling is you don't have EDS and that you have early signs of depression or another medical disorder causing neurasthenia or fatigue. You deserve a medical check up now from your primary care doc, family medicine doc, or psychiatrist. Do not take depression for granted. It is treatable and curable.Also see: Symptoms of Depression. Note that, in the early stage of depression, not all the signs and symptoms listed may be present. The earlier the treatment is started the better the outcome. Go to your doc now!-------------------------Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for standard patient care and should not be construed as specific medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I had the same problem for decades and it began having the most noticeable affect on my life when I was about 25. I was often given advice similar to the other answers, but nothing helped. Finally, after years of researching, visiting doctors, and trying every trick in the book, I got a diagnosis: Narcolepsy. No, it's not like what you see in the movies or on TV.You need to take this simple quiz called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale test: The Epworth Sleepiness ScaleIf your score is 9 or higher, you need to see a sleep specialist. Preferably one with experience diagnosing narcolepsy. I went through two sleep studies and they missed it both times. My score without treatment is 18, but even with a low score you can have it. It is considered a rare condition as it affects an estimated 1 in 2000 people worldwide. However, it typically takes decades to diagnosis so researchers believe the actual number affected could be much higher.Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (ESD) is the most common symptom. Other possible symptoms include cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up.Practicing good sleep hygiene helps, but I've found more improvement by eliminating caffeine, refined sugar, and gluten from my diet. Most narcoleptics have to take medication in order to be able to maintain basic life functions such as maintaining a job.Even if it's not narcolepsy, a sleep study can help identify other issues such as sleep apnea.If the study doesn't show anything conclusive and you've tried changing your diet, exercise, and sleep hygiene, you may need to consider that it could be something like depression. Many people suffer from depression and don't even realize it because of misunderstandings about how it can manifest.Do your research and if the doctor dismisses you, find another one! I suggested narcolepsy to one doctor 10 years before finally getting diagnosed. He dismissed my cataplexy as a possible "blood pressure issue". Doctors don't know everything. Go with your gut and good luck!