Chronic fatigue/ daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea
Causes of Excessive Sleepiness: Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, RLS
Do you struggle to stay awake during work and other activities and you don't know why? Could sleep apnea or another medical condition be the main culprit?
Sometimes the cause of sleepiness isn't easy to figure out. Here is information that can point you in the right direction and help you find the treatment that works best for you.
Fibromyalgia and OSA
People with fibromyalgia are very commonly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, highlighting the importance of sleep studies for better management of the condition.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by complaints of chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and difficulty in falling asleep. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with symptoms, such as morning fatigueness and unrefreshing sleep.
Patients with fibromyalgia should be screened for OSA because treatment of sleep disorders may help with symptoms of fatigue and unrefreshing sleep.
Insomnia and OSA
Insomnia, or problems going to sleep or staying asleep, can become chronic if it lasts more than three months. Anyone who has Chronic Insomnia should evaluated for Sleep apnea.
Chronic insomnia can lead to depression, decreased job performance, decreased quality of life, and many other health-related problems.
Chronic insomnia, which is drug-resistant, is usually related to Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders, like Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or its milder cousin, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be helpful, if airway closure during sleep is the major problem, then CBT will not ultimately lead to restorative sleep.