Excessive Daytime Fatigue: A Hidden Threat to Your Health

If you feel like you're yawning nonstop and struggling to make it through the afternoon without another coffee, it might be a sign of severe fatigue, which could endanger your health, and even your life, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Eric Olson, president of the academy and a specialist in pulmonary and sleep medicine at the Mayo Clinic, explains that excessive daytime fatigue is no small matter. It can lead to car accidents, workplace errors, and a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, and obesity. He notes that one-third of U.S. adults report experiencing excessive fatigue — a statistic that underscores the urgent need for proper diagnosis and treatment. Olson adds that if someone is falling asleep during boring meetings, it likely means they’re not getting enough rest. A well-rested person shouldn’t fall asleep, even during a dull meeting. Sleep deprivation, he explains, harms cognitive function and may signal an underlying medical condition.

Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a sleep physician and professor of medicine in Philadelphia, explains that the body gives misleading signals under chronic sleep deprivation so that people think they’re functioning fine, but are actually making many mistakes. Cognitive tests reveal slow reaction times, poor memory, and impaired coordination, yet sufferers often believe they’re "okay." A particularly concerning phenomenon is "microsleep" which are moments of sleep lasting 2–10 seconds that happen during daily activities without the person realizing, which can be extremely dangerous while driving.

A common tool used to assess fatigue is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which evaluates eight daily scenarios such as watching TV or being a passenger in a car. A score over 10 suggests clinical-level fatigue requiring medical attention.

Advanced symptoms include droopy eyelids, a heavy body, dizziness, hand tremors, and even impulsive behavior. Other contributing factors to fatigue include sleep apnea, chronic pain, certain medications, caffeine, alcohol, marijuana, and poor sleep hygiene.

Experts also recommend examining your sleep environment. A dark, quiet, and comfortable bedroom can help promote deep, restful sleep.