Sleeping Disorders
Daytime drowsiness
One in twenty of the British population suffers from excessive daytime drowsiness (EDS) due to poor sleep - a condition that blunts mental agility and impairs judgement, as well as making us irritable and more sensitive to stress, pain and anxiety.
And it can be lethal – EDS is responsible for 1 in 5 motorway accidents and has been compared to alcohol in its effects on performing complex tasks like driving.
In the longer term it’s linked to heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. So why don’t we take it more seriously?
Insomnia
But then on the other hand, one in 50 British adults are on prescribed medicine to help sleeping at night, and probably as many are treating themselves with over-the-counter remedies.
Is medicine the true answer to a good night’s sleep or are we getting enough without the drugs?
Tests
Dr Mark Porter looks at the tests doctors use to assess whether someone is suffering excessive daytime drowsiness, and investigates how paying more attention to the symptom could save lives, help snorers, and break our over-dependence on sleeping tablets. |
30 min
