A condition in which a person is unable to maintain alertness during the daytime hours, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is characterized by a general lack of energy, even after apparently adequate night time sleep.

Researchers from the Hopital Paul Brousse (France) studied 9,294 subjects (60% women), ages 65 years and over, at the study’s start (1999-2001), when 18.7% of participants experienced regular or frequent EDS. After 6 years of follow-up, the team found that EDS was associated with a 33% increased risk of death. In particular, EDS raised the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease by 49%.

Columbia University (New York, USA) researchers correlated excessive daytime sleepiness to an increased risk of stroke. Studying 2,153 men and women, average age 73 years, the team found the risk of stroke to be 2.6-times greater for those who dozed during the day (as compared to those who did not doze).  Those who dozed significantly had 4.5-times greater stroke risk. While those who had the most trouble staying awake had the highest stroke risk, the researchers also found that those who dozed moderately had a 60% increased risk of any vascular event.

If you are unusually sleepy during the day, consult an anti-aging physician to identify and correct the underlying cause.  Sleep apnea (a disorder in which people stop breathing throughout the night), imbibing excessive amounts of alcohol, and eating a carbohydrate-laden or fatty meal are possible contributors to daytime sleepiness.