Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Tiredness During The Day And Frequent Awakening During Sleep?
Posted on
Sat, 6 Feb 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 6 Feb 2016
Answered on
Tue, 5 Apr 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : hi I'm a 21 year old male I often wake up tired and always wake up in the middle of the night can this be associated with sleep apnea?
Brief Answer:
It is well possible
Detailed Answer:
I read your question and I understand your concern.
Your hypothesis is well justified. Sleep apneas main manifestation is tiredness during the day. Awakenings during the night may also be a common manifestation due to the interrupted breathing episodes.
If you are also overweight and snore at night the probability is even higher (but even if normal weight doesn't exclude it). So I think you should discuss with the doctor the possibility (if he doesn't suspect other causes during his physical exam) of having sleep studies, otherwise called polysomnography.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
It is well possible
Detailed Answer:
I read your question and I understand your concern.
Your hypothesis is well justified. Sleep apneas main manifestation is tiredness during the day. Awakenings during the night may also be a common manifestation due to the interrupted breathing episodes.
If you are also overweight and snore at night the probability is even higher (but even if normal weight doesn't exclude it). So I think you should discuss with the doctor the possibility (if he doesn't suspect other causes during his physical exam) of having sleep studies, otherwise called polysomnography.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I'm not over weight I exercise 4 days out of the week I don't snor when I sleep and I don't feel breathless when I wake up at night I'm just tired when I wake up and usually energetic through out the day I have anxeity problem that's why this is bothering me and I have bad sleeping cycles can this cause it too?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
If you do not feel tired over the day, added to lack of overweight or snoring (as for the waking up the fact you do not feel breathlessness doesn't exclude much as you have resumed breathing at that point) makes the diagnosis much less likely as not feeling refreshed after sleep, tired and sleepy through the day is the mainstay of manifestations.
As for anxiety, yes, conditions like depression or anxiety may be accompanied by lack of energy and sleep disorders so if you feel anxiety during the day it may be the cause. Anxiety may not have a discerneable cause but since at times may be related to some metabolic or hormonal abnormalities some routine blood would be advisable in particular thyroid function and electrolytes as thyroid dysfunction is a common generator of anxiety.
If no cause can be found for anxiety I wouldn't recommend medication for anxiety symptoms so early at your age, only continuing regular physical exercises and perhaps activities like yoga Psychotherapy may also help to better cope with anxiety.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
If you do not feel tired over the day, added to lack of overweight or snoring (as for the waking up the fact you do not feel breathlessness doesn't exclude much as you have resumed breathing at that point) makes the diagnosis much less likely as not feeling refreshed after sleep, tired and sleepy through the day is the mainstay of manifestations.
As for anxiety, yes, conditions like depression or anxiety may be accompanied by lack of energy and sleep disorders so if you feel anxiety during the day it may be the cause. Anxiety may not have a discerneable cause but since at times may be related to some metabolic or hormonal abnormalities some routine blood would be advisable in particular thyroid function and electrolytes as thyroid dysfunction is a common generator of anxiety.
If no cause can be found for anxiety I wouldn't recommend medication for anxiety symptoms so early at your age, only continuing regular physical exercises and perhaps activities like yoga Psychotherapy may also help to better cope with anxiety.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Alright thank you just one last question I've had thyroid work done blood test etc my anxeity started 3 months I woke up in the middle of the night with a panic attack scared me ended up in the ER I even went to cardiologist thought it was my heart had many test done all came back fine I just don't understand why I'd have a panic attack for no reason I'm not stressed or anything could sleep apnea cause a panic attack?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
It is great that you've already had some tests and there have been found no relevant issues, no threatening conditions. I understand that it must be frustrating for you not to have been suggested a cause for the anxiety, but anxiety disorders aren't necessarily related to stressors in your life, they can occur in their absence in the brain. The origin lies in the delicate balance of the many neurotransmitters in the brain, people who suffer anxiety have a disruption of this balance. It can't be diagnosed with a test or exam as we are speaking of phenomena at a molecular level and inside the brain not the blood.
That being said whether sleep apnea can cause night panic attacks.... yes in theory it can and it is investigated at times when there are isolated panic attacks only during sleep. Whether I consider it likely in your case....the more information you provided over the course of our exchange the less likely I think it became in my evaluation. You can still discuss with your doctor the polysomnography I suggested at the beginning but now I do not think it will evidence sleep apnea.
Wishing you good health.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
It is great that you've already had some tests and there have been found no relevant issues, no threatening conditions. I understand that it must be frustrating for you not to have been suggested a cause for the anxiety, but anxiety disorders aren't necessarily related to stressors in your life, they can occur in their absence in the brain. The origin lies in the delicate balance of the many neurotransmitters in the brain, people who suffer anxiety have a disruption of this balance. It can't be diagnosed with a test or exam as we are speaking of phenomena at a molecular level and inside the brain not the blood.
That being said whether sleep apnea can cause night panic attacks.... yes in theory it can and it is investigated at times when there are isolated panic attacks only during sleep. Whether I consider it likely in your case....the more information you provided over the course of our exchange the less likely I think it became in my evaluation. You can still discuss with your doctor the polysomnography I suggested at the beginning but now I do not think it will evidence sleep apnea.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
