A number of things can contribute to daytime drowsiness, including a late night, stress, dehydration or an unhealthy diet. But if you’re excessively tired during the day, you could be dealing with something a little more serious, like chronic fatigue. According to a recent study conducted by researchers at Stanford University, excessive tiredness in older adults, specifically, could be cause for concern.
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To conduct the study, researchers interviewed 10,930 people, then interviewed them a second time three years later. Of the total number of participants, 34% were over the age of 65. In the first interview, 23% of the 65 and older crew met the researchers’ criteria for excessive sleepiness. In the second interview, 24% reported the same. In both interviews combined, 41% said they considered their constant tired state to be a chronic problem.
Of the 840 participants who reported feeling tired all the time, researchers found a 2.3 greater risk of developing high blood pressure or diabetes during the three-year period. The researchers discovered these participants were also twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Of the 840, 6.2% developed diabetes and 2.4% developed cancer — diagnosis rates that were much higher than the participants who did not report feeling tired during the day.
Even when the researchers accounted for sleep apnea and other factors that may contribute to daytime drowsiness, the results were consistent. The study showed that those who reported feeling tired during the day were also 2.5 times more likely to develop heart disease.
While there are many factors that can contribute to daytime drowsiness, lack of sleep is, of course, a big one. Sleep deprivation can have a number of health effects and ramifications, ranging from mild to devastating. Studies have linked poor sleep to a variety of health problems, including excessive aging of your heart, increased risk of high blood pressure and vascular inflammation associated with heart disease, increased risk of cancer and more. For tips on how to get a better night’s sleep, click here.