Drowsiness is the mildest form of quantitative disorders of consciousness. There is often confusion by name with dizzy spells. Affected individuals are drowsy. The state of drowsiness may also occur on waking, under hypnosis, during meditation and relaxation exercises.
What is drowsiness?
By drowsiness, medical professionals mean a quantitative disturbance of consciousness. This means the patient’s level of alertness is impaired. By drowsiness, physicians mean a quantitative disturbance of consciousness. This means that the patient’s level of alertness is limited. In connection with drowsiness, disturbances in thinking, acting and concentration can occur. Attention is reduced. Patients are responsive and react spontaneously to speech. If drowsiness occurs, it indicates a mental disorder with an organic cause.
Causes
The causes of drowsiness are usually organic in origin and require evaluation by a physician if they occur more frequently. Causes of drowsiness include fluid loss, medications, drugs, alcohol, and poisoning. Metabolic disorders (diabetes) and environmental toxins can also cause drowsiness. Diseases or injuries of the brain can also be responsible for drowsiness. Patients often also suffer from drowsiness after a stroke. Acute heart problems e.g. heart attack can cause drowsiness. Another cause can be meningitis or brain inflammation from a tick bite. Drowsiness can also occur after sunstroke. Blockages in the upper cervical spine cause drowsiness in rare cases.
Diseases with this symptom
- Aneurysm
- Drug allergy
- Brain edema
- Heart attack
- Circulatory disorders
- Alcohol intoxication
- Heat stroke
- Sunstroke
- Concussion
- Stroke
- Diabetes mellitus
- Poisoning
- Meningitis
- Mushroom poisoning
- Metabolic disorder
- Epilepsy
- Hypotension
- Hypoglycemia
Diagnosis and course
When diagnosing for drowsiness, it must be clearly delineated whether it is a quantitative disorder of consciousness or a dizziness attack. Furthermore, the physician will examine whether the patient responds in an adapted manner to response and to pain stimuli. Extension and flexor reflexes are tested by the physician. They provide the physician with information about the severity of the quantitative disturbance of consciousness. The course of the drowsiness depends on the cause and on the therapy. If it is possible to eliminate the cause, the drowsiness disappears. If adequate therapy does not set in, somnolence (morbid drowsiness), sopor, precoma, or coma may result. In the case of morbid drowsiness, the patient can only be awakened by loud speech or touching. In this case, breathing is also slowed down. Sopor is characterized by the fact that the patient can only be awakened briefly by strong stimuli. In precoma and coma, the patient can no longer be awakened. Here, differentiation is made by the pupillary reflex to light incidence, which is still present in precoma, and no longer present in coma. In addition, breathing is also slowed or pauses in breathing occur.
Complications
Drowsiness impairs the ability to properly assess everyday situations and make reasonable decisions. For their own safety, patients are asked, for example, after anesthesia or even under the influence of certain medications, to stop operating heavy machinery or participating in traffic. Drowsiness can otherwise lead to serious accidents in these situations. Patients affected by drowsiness should also be careful at home and not touch any sharp objects, do not cook anything themselves and only move slowly and carefully until the drowsiness has improved. Complications of drowsiness often arise simply because the patient is home under medication but does not have a companion with him or her to help with the condition. If, on the other hand, the drowsiness is not medication-induced but occurs unpredictably, it is often downplayed by the affected person himself and not properly recognized by those around him.The onset of drowsiness is usually so slow that the person affected is not sure what is happening to him or her and whether there is a problem at all. If it occurs due to nerve damage, for example, the affected person continues to live his or her daily life despite drowsiness, exposing him or herself and others to various risks. As a result, it is not uncommon for the patient to be admitted to the hospital as an accident patient, where he or she states that he or she has felt dizzy all day and probably should not have left the house at all.
When should you go to the doctor?
More frequent drowsiness should always be thoroughly questioned. Going to the doctor will provide reassurance about the cause. If the drowsiness becomes more severe or faints, the person concerned definitely belongs in specialist hands. Either the partner calls the emergency doctor or the patient, after waking up, immediately activates the emergency call himself. Sometimes people are dazed and feel dizzy because they have been kneeling for a long time and got up too quickly. Both usually pass quickly, and a doctor’s visit is not necessary. However, if the feeling of not being completely with oneself persists or occurs repeatedly without any apparent cause, the situation is different. Drowsiness also occurs with high fever. It should be noted that children often have a relatively cool forehead despite an elevated temperature. The fever thermometer is indispensable here, and the (often hot) abdomen can also be felt to check. If children (and old people) drink too little, they are also often dizzy. The first port of call is usually the family doctor. Likewise, an internist can be consulted. Drowsiness may also be an issue for the orthopedist if the brain is no longer supplied properly due to pinched off blood vessels. Severe tension and postural problems are often to blame.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of drowsiness should be done very quickly and depends on the cause. If the cause is a circulatory disorder, therapy that promotes blood flow is required. If the drowsiness occurs due to toxic substances, it is essential to discontinue or eliminate them. Alcohol withdrawal or drug withdrawal is an example here. Drowsiness due to metabolic derangements can only be treated by proper adjustment of blood sugar levels. If infectious diseases are the cause of drowsiness, the therapy is carried out by appropriate medications administered orally and by infusions. Drowsiness caused by increases in intracranial pressure requires the intervention of the neurosurgeon, who lowers the intracranial pressure by surgical means. If heart disease is responsible for the drowsiness, further therapy should be provided by a cardiologist who will attempt to return the heart to normal function through drug or surgical therapy. If the lightheadedness is the result of a blockage in the cervical spine, patients should definitely see an orthopedic surgeon or a physical therapist, who will use specific mobilization techniques to remove the blockage.
Outlook and prognosis
Drowsiness does not necessarily need to be treated by a physician. It can occur temporarily in many people and also disappear on its own, so no special treatment is necessary. Success in treating drowsiness depends very much on the patient’s psychological and physical characteristics and cannot be predicted on an individual basis. Relatively often, a delayed reaction to the environment develops. This can lead to severe limitations in everyday life. Performing an activity is no longer possible for many people with drowsiness. In many cases, drowsiness develops during the aging process and cannot be completely prevented. Drowsiness can also occur at a young age as a result of an accident or other mental disorder and can place a heavy burden on the life of the person affected. A cure is only possible in a few cases. In most cases, the patient is dependent on outside help and care to cope with everyday life. Often, affected persons are treated with medication to prevent a traumatic brain injury. This is often responsible for the drowsiness itself. In addition to the drowsiness, there are usually also sleep problems and metabolic problems, which are intensified by the use of alcohol and other drugs. Whether the drowsiness can be completely cured depends greatly on the general condition of the patient.
Prevention
A healthy lifestyle with sufficient and varied exercise and proper adjustment of blood glucose levels can partially prevent disorders associated with drowsiness. Furthermore, alcohol should not be consumed at all or only in small amounts. Drug abuse leads to further damage in addition to drowsiness, and should be avoided. When doing handicrafts or building houses, toxic substances should be avoided, as these toxins are constantly released into the air in the room. In addition, prolonged persistence in certain positions should be avoided to prevent blockage of the cervical spine.
This is what you can do yourself
Drowsiness is a common symptom that can indicate various medical conditions. Often, drowsiness is accompanied by a lack of fluids, which is why drinking plenty of cold water can help. Blood circulation is stimulated and nutrients are better processed in the body. With adequate hydration, a cold shower can promote circulation and counteract the drowsy feeling. In general, care should be taken to maintain proper sitting posture. The shoulder and neck muscles are relaxed in an upright posture. If you are predominantly sedentary, loosening and relaxation exercises should be performed at regular intervals to promote blood circulation and keep the body active through movement. Regular exercise is also useful for reducing feelings of drowsiness and preventing them in advance. Stress can also be a factor that leads to drowsiness. After a hard day’s work, it is not essential to fill the evening off with housework. The body and mind need sufficient time to relax. Additional, often self-made, stress should be avoided. This also goes hand in hand with a healthy sleep rhythm. An adult needs an average of 8 hours of sleep. If drowsiness is accompanied by depression, sufficient time outdoors is recommended. Sunshine and fresh air stimulate metabolism and increase vitamin D intake.
