Are You Falling Asleep At Work?

Falling asleep at work can be embarrassing, but it may also be a sign that you have a sleep disorder. If your daytime sleepiness is ongoing, happening once a week or more and isn’t due to a temporary, easily understandable cause such as staying out late with friends, it could indicate the presence of a sleep disorder.

In this blog, the board-certified sleep doctors at eos sleep diagnostics explain how falling asleep at work could be associated with a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is associated with repeated pauses of breathing while you sleep, which deprives your brain and the rest of your body of the oxygen it needs. It keeps you from receiving the quality of sleep you need, even though you’re spending enough time in bed.

This sleep disorder can interfere with your ability to complete your daily tasks without feeling drowsy or falling asleep. If you sit still at work or while watching TV or reading, you may be even more likely to feel drowsy or fall asleep.

The following are some common symptoms of sleep apnea:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness - including behaviors such as feeling very drowsy or falling asleep at work or while driving
• Chronic loud snoring
• Loud gasping or snorting sounds during sleep
• Breathing stoppages during sleep that are witnessed by someone else
• Waking up with a dry mouth or a sore throat
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Irritability and mood swings
• Difficulty remembering and concentrating

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Your symptoms and risk factors (such as being overweight) can suggest the presence of sleep apnea, but the only way to obtain a definitive diagnosis is by undergoing a sleep study. This test can also be used to evaluate how effective your treatment is if you’ve already been diagnosed with sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

Also known as polysomnography, a sleep study is usually performed in a hospital or in a sleep lab. You’ll stay overnight during this test, which uses sensors to measure and record your brain activity, oxygen levels, breathing, heart rate, and other important information while you sleep.

This data will be evaluated by your doctor, who can use it to rule out or diagnose the presence of a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. This is the first step toward receiving effective treatment and improving your health and well being.

If you’re falling asleep at work, make an appointment today with the sleep specialists at eos sleep diagnostics. We’ll talk to you about your medical history and symptoms, and if sleep apnea or another sleep disorder is suspected, we’ll conduct a sleep study in our luxurious private sleep lab. You’ll receive an accurate diagnosis as well as the treatment you need to sleep and feel better.