Excessive Day Time Sleepiness, Vienna, VA

Do you often feel tired, drowsy, or struggle to stay awake during the day—even after what seems like a full night’s sleep? Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is more than simply feeling fatigued. It may be a symptom of an underlying sleep disorder that can affect your health, work performance, and quality of life.

At NOVA Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates, our board-certified sleep specialists provide comprehensive evaluations for excessive daytime sleepiness in Vienna, VA. We identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and develop personalized treatment plans to help you feel rested, alert, and energized.

NOVA Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates

📍 Vienna Office
124 Park Street SE, Suite 203
Vienna, VA 22180
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📞 571-367-0000

Office Hours:

Mon – Fri: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Sat & Sun: Closed

What Is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is the persistent inability to stay awake and alert during normal waking hours. People with EDS may unintentionally fall asleep while reading, watching television, working, driving, or even during conversations.

Unlike normal tiredness that improves after a good night’s sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness often continues despite getting adequate sleep and may indicate an underlying medical condition.

Common Symptoms

If you have excessive daytime sleepiness, you may experience:

• Feeling sleepy throughout the day
• Difficulty staying awake during meetings or while reading
• Falling asleep while watching television
• Trouble concentrating or remembering information
• Morning headaches
• Low energy
• Irritability or mood changes
• Poor work or school performance
• Falling asleep while driving
• Needing frequent naps that are not refreshing

If daytime sleepiness interferes with your daily activities or safety, it should be evaluated by a sleep medicine specialist.

What Causes Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?

Many medical and sleep-related conditions can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness, including:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

One of the most common causes of daytime sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, preventing restful sleep.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep can lead to chronic sleep deprivation and daytime fatigue.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Frequent leg discomfort and nighttime movements may disrupt sleep quality and contribute to daytime drowsiness.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Shift work, irregular sleep schedules, and jet lag can interfere with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

Medical Conditions

Certain health conditions, medications, depression, anxiety, thyroid disorders, and chronic illnesses may also contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Daytime Sleepiness

Persistent sleepiness is not simply an inconvenience. Untreated excessive daytime sleepiness may increase your risk of:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Workplace injuries
• Reduced productivity
• Memory problems
• Poor concentration
• Depression and anxiety
• Cardiovascular disease associated with untreated sleep apnea
• Decreased quality of life

Early diagnosis allows treatment before complications develop.

Comprehensive Sleep Evaluation

Our sleep specialists perform a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your daytime sleepiness.

Your evaluation may include:

• Detailed sleep history
• Medical history review
• Medication review
• Physical examination
• Sleep questionnaires
• Airway evaluation
• Review of lifestyle and sleep habits
• Assessment for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders

This comprehensive approach allows us to recommend the most appropriate testing and treatment.

Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT)

If obstructive sleep apnea is suspected, many patients qualify for a convenient Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT).

A home sleep study measures:

• Airflow
• Oxygen levels
• Breathing effort
• Heart rate
• Respiratory events

For more complex sleep disorders, an overnight sleep study in a sleep laboratory may be recommended.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your excessive daytime sleepiness.

Your personalized treatment plan may include:

CPAP Therapy

For patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP therapy helps keep the airway open throughout the night, improving sleep quality and reducing daytime sleepiness.

Lifestyle Modifications

Recommendations may include:

• Maintaining a regular sleep schedule
• Weight management
• Exercise
• Limiting alcohol before bedtime
• Improving sleep hygiene

Medication Management

Some patients benefit from medications to treat narcolepsy or other sleep disorders when appropriate.

Management of Underlying Medical Conditions

Treating allergies, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, or other contributing medical conditions often improves daytime alertness.

Why Choose NOVA Pulmonary?

Patients choose NOVA Pulmonary because we offer:

• Board-certified sleep medicine physicians
• Comprehensive sleep disorder evaluations
• Home sleep apnea testing
• Advanced diagnostic testing
• Personalized treatment plans
• CPAP therapy management
• Convenient Vienna location
• Coordinated pulmonary and sleep medicine care

Our goal is to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and provide effective, long-term treatment.

Schedule an Evaluation for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

If you constantly feel tired during the day, struggle to stay awake, or believe your sleep isn’t as restorative as it should be, don’t ignore your symptoms. The experienced sleep specialists at NOVA Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates provide comprehensive evaluations to diagnose the underlying cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and develop personalized treatment plans that help you enjoy healthier, more refreshing sleep.

Directions & Parking Information

Our Vienna office is located on Park Street SE near the Vienna Community Center and historic downtown Vienna.

Free parking available near the building
Elevator access to Suite 203
Easily accessible from Route 123 and I-66
Minutes from Tysons Corner

If you need assistance locating our office, please call and our staff will guide you.

Serving Vienna and Nearby Communities

Our Vienna office proudly serves patients throughout:

• Vienna
• Tysons
• Oakton
• McLean
• Fairfax
• Falls Church
• Merrifield
• Dunn Loring
• Annandale
• Burke
• Centreville
• Chantilly
• Reston

Conveniently located in Vienna, our office is easily accessible from Route 123, I-66, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is excessive daytime sleepiness?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a condition in which you have difficulty staying awake during normal daytime activities despite getting what seems like enough sleep.

What is the most common cause of excessive daytime sleepiness?

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common causes, although insomnia, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythm disorders, medications, and certain medical conditions may also contribute.

Should I be concerned if I fall asleep during the day?

Yes. Frequent daytime sleepiness or unintentionally falling asleep during daily activities should be evaluated by a sleep medicine specialist, especially if it affects work, school, or driving.

Will I need a sleep study?

Your physician will determine whether a home sleep apnea test or an overnight sleep study is appropriate based on your symptoms and medical history.

Can excessive daytime sleepiness be treated?

Yes. Most cases can be successfully managed once the underlying cause is identified. Treatment may include CPAP therapy, lifestyle modifications, medication, or treatment of another sleep disorder.

What areas do you serve?

Our Vienna office provides sleep evaluations and treatment for patients from Vienna, Tysons, Oakton, McLean, Fairfax, Falls Church, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Reston, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.

NOVA Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates is committed to providing excellent care in all aspects of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders. With offices located in Lansdowne and Dulles, South Riding, we offer care for the entire Northern Virginia region, serving locations from Chantilly, Fairfax, Vienna, Centreville, Manassas, Gainesville to Reston, Sterling, Leesburg, Ashburn, Brambleton, Purcellville and more.

Resources

Asthma Allergic Foundation