title: Excessive sleepiness.
abstract: Sleepiness is a commonly experienced symptom affecting up to one-fifth of the population chronically. Sleepiness contributes to systemic health effects, and has been shown to contribute to mood disorders and cardiovascular risks. Sleepiness also presents a significant public health risk: it has been associated with major catastrophes, motor vehicle accidents, and medical errors by health care workers. This article reviews the implications of sleepiness on public health, the evaluation of sleepiness, disorders that result in sleepiness, and the management of these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health, University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA. tsais@njhealth.org
authors.forename: Sheila C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000465:Algorithms; D019454:Chronotherapy; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography; D011634:Public Health; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy