If you work night shifts, light therapy may help you to feel more awake. Staying hydrated is key to keeping your energy levels up because your body needs water to function properly. Adopting these suggested practices can help you combat tiredness and enhance your overall health and wellbeing. If you feel you're suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn't relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition. In addition to making it difficult to focus, mental fatigue can produce feelings of tiredness. Regular exercise generally improves sleep at night and helps prevent daytime sleepiness. Then, on the weekend, you might make up the sleep debt by sleeping longer than normal. Assessing and making changes to your sleep routine and environment and consulting with a healthcare professional, if necessary, can be steps towards achieving restful sleep. Consult with a healthcare professional to get personalized advice for improving your sleep. A nutrient-rich diet, staying hydrated, and regular physical activity may help to support better sleep cycles and overall energy. Try improving your sleep environment and routine, and consult a healthcare provider if the problem persists. Lose weight and you'll feel much more energetic. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. Even a single 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity. You might feel that exercise is the last thing on your mind. Partners who have shared experience, such as similar sleeping patterns and eating patterns, are more likely to have positive interactions that reduce fatigue levels.5 And the more stress you have, the more fatigue you’re likely to experience and vice versa. If you’re a parent (or caretaker, for that matter), it’s important to know that taking time for yourself isn’t selfish—it’s restorative. The study found that mothers typically have less quality downtime to “recover” from parenting, which can lead to fatigue.4 Generally, staying up too late can make you feel tired all the time. While it’s natural to wake up a little sleepy and need to ease into your day, being consistently groggy all morning may be a sign of a bigger issue. Even after logging 8 hours, you might still feel groggy, sluggish, or mentally foggy. Waking up tired after a full night’s sleep can be frustrating but surprisingly common. “Individuals with anxiety often have difficulty falling asleep (insomnia) and tend to have more sleeping issues when going through stressful situations,” Dr. Cherian explains. Again, you might not realize it's messing with your rest, but it could be keeping you from getting a deep enough sleep and leave you tired the next day. Light signals from your eyes are sent to these cells, which tells them that it’s daylight. It’s also important to make sure you are eating enough before exercising, otherwise, your body will take energy from its stores of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Your body needs recovery time after every workout to allow it to repair any damage. “Once they start sleeping with that, they say, ‘Oh, this is what it’s like for everybody else during the day! A constant state of stress can manifest as inflammation in the body, leaving you feeling tired and irritable on a regular basis. There are a number of different causes of fatigue, some include low-quality sleep, poor diet, medical conditions, and excess amounts of stress. While mild tiredness is normal, persistent or extreme sleepiness may indicate anemia, thyroid changes, or another medical concern, so it’s best to check with a prenatal care provider. Excessive daytime sleepiness can sometimes occur in people with dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Can anemia cause excessive sleepiness? Adults need seven or more hours of sleep each night, according to Mayo Clinic. That’s why it’s so important to figure out what’s causing your middle-of-the-day fatigue. For instance, you may find yourself having trouble focusing or making decisions, feeling easily irritated, and experiencing slowed reaction times, according to the Sleep Foundation. “There are treatments which can help temporarily or long-term, and they’re very similar to what we use for anxiety, SSRI medicines primarily. Hormone disruption in menopause is another common cause of fatigue, but Sheaffer says you don’t have to deal with it for the next five to 10 years of your life. The first line of treatment for sleep apnea is the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. “With that home study, we’re usually able to pick up obstructive sleep apnea and get treatment started very quickly,” she says. They may recommend getting tested for some of the most common conditions that can cause fatigue. They’ll ask about your lifestyle and your mood to determine if there is something that could be affecting your energy levels, such as anxiety or depression. Sleeping too much disrupts these signals and affects your body’s schedule. Sleeping too much can disrupt your body clock, which is also called your circadian pacemaker. Ignoring ongoing sleep deprivation can have serious long-term impacts on your health and wellbeing because it can cause something known as Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD).It’s time to seek professional help if tiredness is interfering with your daily life or you suspect there’s an underlying health issue contributing, according to the Sleep Foundation.Physicians base their responses to their patients’ complaints of sleep problems on how they interpret the cause of the disturbances.“The neurons in your cerebral cortex the outer layer of your brain tend to fire increasingly frequently over the course of an extended period of wakefulness.Even if your haemoglobin is normal, low ferritin (your iron storage marker) can lead to profound fatigue, brain fog, and low stamina.If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. If you have fibromyalgia, you likely experience problems such as difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or waking up too early. This acute or episodic type of insomnia should resolve on its own and does not require medical evaluation. An estimated 40 million people in the United States experience some form of insomnia every year. The effects of sleep deprivation can quickly add up, and fatigue is often one of the primary symptoms. Your sleep schedule often falls into a pattern as your body gets used to a certain routine. Ongoing problems with sleepiness can usually be treated. Chronic fatigue can have detrimental effects on daily life, leading to irritability and other issues tied to your mood. But tiredness that hangs around most of the day or naps that aren’t restorative indicate a potential problem that could impact your daytime functioning, Dr. Polos says. “The usual midafternoon fatigue that many of us experience is part of the normal circadian rhythm,” says Peter G. Polos, MD, PhD, sleep medicine specialist with Sleep Number, who’s based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. It can affect your mental health, sexual health and overall quality of life.” “If tiredness has lasted more than six months without an obvious cause, it’s time to start the conversation with your doctor,” Sheaffer advises. A National Sleep Foundation “Sleep in America” poll found that, on average, Americans feel sleepy three days a week. Getting adequate sleep is not just a matter of getting rid of your daytime sleepiness, but also a matter of health and well-being. If you only sleep a few hours a night, you are not sleeping long enough to repair body and mind, which is why 8 to 9 hours of sleep are ideas. If you are having problems sleeping, or are sleeping well but still don’t feel rested, you should consider these 18 reasons you may be sleepy all the time during the day. Sometimes, the underlying cause of sleepiness is a medication you’re taking to treat another health issue. Vitamin D Deficiency This can lead to daytime sleepiness or reduced energy, Dr. Becker says. Tips to Combat Excessive Sleepiness Whether or not heavy sleeping is considered bad or a disadvantage depends on the individual and their specific situation. It’s important to note that there may be other underlying medical conditions that can also contribute to being a heavy sleeper, and consulting a specialist is the first step in identifying them. These sleep spindles correspond to a form of brain activity that occurs during deep sleep and makes a person more tolerant of noises. When selenium is too low, the thyroid may not work optimally, potentially throwing off sleep.Your health provider can perform simple blood tests to test for nutrient deficiencies. But if a person consistently turns to a glass of the good stuff to get them to sleep, Dr. Cherian explains that it might have the opposite impact. “Short-term alcohol can have a sedative effect and actually help induce sleep,” Dr. Cherian says. If you’ve ever unwound from a long day at work with a glass — or two — of wine, you might have found yourself conking out easier than expected. Other Medical Conditions Your doctor can help you achieve the benefits of healthier sleep.”The period of deep sleep (slow wave sleep, or SWS) is increased and this can cause fatigue which lasts throughout the day.Specifically, the Period and Cryptochrome genes, which code for proteins regulate our sleep and wake cycles throughout the day.Fatigue is such a common part of working night shifts that many of us are guilty of trying to just push through it.Your diet in the weeks, days and hours ahead of your race can power you to the finish lineHave you ever felt like your usual healthy habits suddenly aren't "enough"?There are plenty of reasons you could be feeling more drained than usual. This is the definition of insomnia, a condition that affects about 12% of women.1 This condition causes pronounced daytime sleepiness and problems concentrating. One of the biggest reasons for always feeling tired despite getting enough sleep is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If you wake up after a full eight hours of sleep feeling less than refreshed, you’ll want to read this. A lot of medical conditions result in fatigue, even when you get what appears to be a reasonable amount of sleep—usually about seven to nine hours. What’s more, a 2016 study published in the journal American Sociological Review found that of more than 12,000 people, moms report greater fatigue and more stress levels in spending time with their children than fathers. Likely self-limited, but medical care may be helpful or needed This is especially true for working moms and health care workers, who often prioritize others’ needs over their own well-being. Life’s constant demands often lead to chronic stress and exhaustion, according to Sheaffer. But you don’t have to resign yourself to a life of constant fatigue. “In turn, that can cause sleep disruption that makes your sleep feel unrestorative.” And while drinking alcohol before bed may help you fall asleep faster, it often fragments sleep later in the night. “But it can still interfere with your brain’s ability to reach deep sleep.” “A lot of people say caffeine doesn’t affect them because they can fall asleep just fine,” she adds. What you consume can affect the quality of your sleep — and so can when you consume it. Most people fall asleep within 10 to 20 minutes, but if your experience is different, adjusting your sleep schedule may help If you continue to wake up tired despite getting enough sleep, start by improving your sleep hygiene. Only a healthcare provider can determine whether you’re experiencing an iron deficiency that could be contributing to your symptoms. Sleep deprivation is extremely common, affecting 50 to 70 million Americans at any given time, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Email us at The Medical Minute is a weekly health news feature produced by Penn State Health. If applicable, sometimes we’ll use hormone replacement.” Sleep cycles are often altered after a traumatic brain injury, but as the injury heals, sleep cycles start to normalize again. It is important to see your health care provider if you have sleep apnea because apnea increases your risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease. While some people with severe depression may have unusual bursts of energy, it is more common to have a loss of energy. If lifestyle changes and adopting good sleep hygiene habits do not help your restless leg syndrome, your health care provider can help. Have you ever had one of those night when you toss and turn because you can’t quiet your mind, if not your body? Rob writes about the intersection of sleep and mental health and previously worked at the National Cancer Institute.Overtiredness can be prevented by paying close attention to your sleep hygiene and forming positive habits around bedtime.Instead of being productive most of our energy and focus goes to simply keeping our eyes open.Additionally, heavy sleepers are at an increased risk of suffering from sleep inertia, as they are thought to spend more time in deep and REM sleep and tend to wake up during these.Most women experience the mental and physical restlessness of ADHD only when they are trying to shut down the arousal state of day-to-day functioning in order to fall asleep.Packing healthy, energizing foods can make all the difference when it comes to fighting fatigue during the night shift.“It’s amazing how many people still have their childhood pillow,” Dr. Salas says. Autoimmune diseases, conditions in which your own immune system mistakenly attacks parts of your body, can create a whole host of wildly different symptoms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it can leave you exhausted and plagued with sleep disturbances. Your immune system works really hard to fend off an infection and that requires energy, Piper points out. You probably already point fingers at premenstrual syndrome for crankiness, but fatigue really is a big player when it comes to symptoms. Loss of muscle tone (known as cataplexy) may also be a symptom, which shows up as a weakness in certain areas of the body—like the face, neck, and knees—when you laugh or get excited. Fortunately, most people with a traumatic brain injury are seen in the emergency room and the injury is recognized and treated.If you have a physically demanding job, it is also possible for you to become physically fatigued, even if you are not mentally fatigued.Loud snorting, breathing and snoring at nightBoth are essential for nerve health and red blood cell production.If you’re wondering why you’re constantly battling the urge to sleep, let’s break it down in simple terms.Your energy might rebound faster than you expect.Vitamin deficiencies can also contribute to fatigue, especially since vitamins support healthy hormone production, which in turn helps our body regulate sleep and wake cycles.Natural sunlight is much brighter than any artificial light source, and getting enough sunlight, especially in the morning, helps regulate your body’s 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, according to Mundt. Alzheimer’s Disease and Sleep You might be sleeping enough—but if you’re still waking up exhausted, your brain could be wrestling with something your conscious mind hasn’t faced yet. In fact, many people find that on days when they hit the snooze button more times than usual, they feel more lethargic and unmotivated. It makes sense that getting less sleep than you need might leave you feeling tired, but you may be surprised to learn that getting more sleep than you need may not leave you refreshed and energized. The fact that 80 percent of adults with ADHD eventually fall into “the sleep of the dead” has led researchers to look for explanations. The simplest explanation is that sleep disturbances are direct manifestations of ADHD itself. He sees sleep disturbances as indicative of problems of arousal and alertness in ADHD itself. Physicians base their responses to their patients’ complaints of sleep problems on how they interpret the cause of the disturbances. ADHD sleepers are commonly irritable, even combative, when roused before they are ready. Traumatic brain injury can be the result of car accidents, falls, or sport-related injuries. Waking up – even briefly like this - interrupts your normal sleep cycle. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airway becomes blocked as your tongue and other parts of your upper airway become slack and relax. So, during sleep, all your muscles relax, as do your tongue and some of the soft tissue in your throat. Sleep is a period of deep relaxation and restoration, both mentally and physically. Sleep directly impacts physical health Good sleep can better fight off infections, while lack of sleep can lead to weight gain and other health issues. More importantly, sleep directly affects how our body reacts to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. Our physical health and sleep are closely tied. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. This period of deep sleep is believed to be the restorative phase of sleep. The period of deep sleep (SWS) is decreased in fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia causes a disruption in the phases of your sleep cycle. “Based on the patient symptoms and medical history, the doctor can help determine if a referral to a sleep center and a sleep study is the next step,” Becker says. Polos says other red flags to bring up to a doctor include sleepiness that persists over the course of a few weeks, a sudden onset of sleepiness, or a decline in memory or concentration. They may perform a physical exam or order bloodwork to check for obesity, cardiovascular disease, or metabolic and neurologic conditions that can contribute to sleepiness. To determine if an underlying health issue is to blame, your doctor will likely analyze your sleep habits, lifestyle, medication use, and overall health to make a diagnosis, Polos says. Singh’s research and clinical practice focuses on sleep disorders, including excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, chronic snoring, insomnia, and sleep education. “One problem a lot of people fall into is that they’re getting seven to eight hours (of sleep) on average over the week, but on the weeknights, they’re only getting six hours, and then on the weekends, they’re catching up and getting 10 hours a night.” If you’re within this range and still feel tired, try increasing your sleep duration to see if you feel more rested. Additionally, she encourages people with chronic fatigue to seek support from doctors, loved ones or an accountability partner for assistance during this challenging or stressful time. How to Wake Up Early: 7 Expert-Tested Tips You should also make sure you’re getting enough nutrients from your diet to help with your energy levels. Before you see your GP, think about what could be making you feel tired. Feeling tired is fairly common and can be caused by lots of different things, such as working too much, staying up too late or not being able to fall asleep easily. Doctors are now identifying that more and more patients are experiencing what is known as post-COVID syndrome or “long COVID.” Those with long COVID have symptoms that include fatigue, “brain fog,” insomnia, and anxiety. Anemia happens when you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body’s tissues. You’re going to bed at a reasonable time and clocking a solid seven to nine hours … but still, you wake up tired. I've tried dopamine fasts before, and while they sound intense, even a day without stimulation can make your baseline energy feel more… available. Even after sleep, you feel like you’re walking through molasses. If your days are mentally chaotic, your brain might not be getting the break it needs. You may also find it hard to fall asleep at night, or you might wake up earlier than you want in the morning. That can keep you up at night and leave you dragging during the day. Your hormones change a lot at this time, which give you night sweats and hot flashes. A device called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine can help keep your airways open for a solid night's sleep. Your daily habits and environment can significantly impact the quality of your sleep. Whether you need expert sleep advice for your insomnia or you’re searching for the perfect mattress, we’ve got you covered. Damage to brain regions that control sleep–wake cycles can lead to hypersomnia or irregular sleep patterns. This can lead to fatigue, weakness, and difficulty staying alert during the day. Increased sleepiness is common during early pregnancy due to hormonal changes—particularly higher levels of progesterone—that promote drowsiness. Sleep disorders can negatively affect the amount of quality sleep a person gets, resulting in daytime drowsiness. Excessive daytime sleepiness is defined as a difficulty staying awake or alert throughout the day. Feeling unusually tired during the day can be more than just a sign of a late night, it may point to an underlying health condition. Additionally, certain sleep positions, like lying on your stomach, puts extra strain on your back and neck. Though the reasons behind this association aren’t fully clear, some theories include increased inflammation, sedentary lifestyle, and underlying sleep disorders, which are all known risk factors for stroke. Research suggests higher odds for type 2 diabetes for long sleepers. If a person frequently feels hungry, they’re more likely to eat, and, consequently, gain weight. If you’ve started a new medication and notice increased sleepiness, this might be the reason. Some medicines, like antihistamines, antidepressants, or painkillers, can make you feel drowsy. Over time, this can lead to exhaustion during the day. Sleep disorders, mental health conditions and other health concerns can all affect the quality of your sleep Vitamin deficiencies can also contribute to fatigue, especially since vitamins support healthy hormone production, which in turn helps our body regulate sleep and wake cycles. Circadian disruption is considered the leading cause of fatigue and sleepiness among night shift workers. Ongoing tiredness can have a significant impact on your mental health as it can lead to increased stress, difficulty in concentrating, and mood swings. How do you make sure you have time to process your day? Before bed, list your worries on a page, whether it’s related to work, health, your social life – whatever. “Rested brains are good at ignoring things that happen all the time but have no real consequence. “Activity in this brain region needs to be slow to enable us to transition into sleep. "A key theory is that sleep resets your sleep pressure – sleep effectively stops the brain from getting more and more excitable and metaphorically exploding!” When we fall asleep, our eyes close, our breathing slows, and our muscles gradually relax.Small steps can lead to big changes in how much energy you feel each day.You also should be asked about any mood changes, sleep habits or mental health concerns.If fatigue persists after making these changes, Sheaffer recommends vitamin testing for any hidden deficiencies.Start by ensuring the fundamentals of good sleep hygiene are in place.If you feel you're suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn't relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition. 67% admitted to at least feeling tired at work, while still being able to perform their normal duties. If you’re experiencing chronic fatigue, it might be a good idea to go to the doctor and rule out any potential medical conditions. Neglecting your diet can quickly cause you to feel fatigued and tired on a daily basis. Make sure you’re taking time to relax and give yourself the mental breaks you need. Chronic stress can cause both mental and physical fatigue. Sleep is crucial for supporting our health and wellbeing. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I wake up tired? Diabetes, thyroid disorders, and anemia can all cause sleep issues and exhaustion. But if you aren’t sure they’re right for you, your stress and fatigue levels may be telling you something. If you and your partner or even a friend or friend group just haven’t been on the same level recently, chances are you’re more tired than usual too. If possible, try to schedule yourself with some break times in between shifts to catch up on sleep. This basically takes place because your body’s sleep-wake cycle can’t find a sense of balance. Food and Drug Administration, so you’ll want your coffee cutoff to be at least four to six hours before bedtime. Or maybe you fall asleep easily but cannot stay asleep, which is referred to as maintenance insomnia. Even once the disease resolves, there are lingering abnormalities in the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin, which is a hormone made by the pineal gland and helps regulate sleep, levels decrease during the premenstrual phase of a menstrual cycle, which can cause insomnia. Sleep deprivation is, simply, not getting enough sleep. Have your last drink at least two hours before you turn in, Dr. Roth advises. “When you eat a big meal, the digestion process revs up a system that should be shutting down for sleep,” Dr. Roth explains. Eating a big meal too close to bedtime, for example, can play a role. No, I won't tell you to quit caffeine, meal prep 24/7, or meditate for an hour a day. “Listen to your body” isn’t some vague, useless phrase. Your brain loves steady fuel, not sugar spikes followed by crashes that leave you hangry and foggy. The reasons why you’re always tired can come down to lifestyle factors, certain health issues (sleep apnea is a big one), or a combination of both. And, of course, there’s also fatigue that falls somewhere in between, like feeling totally wiped even though you know you got enough sleep. It’s important to note that while some people may naturally sleep more, excessive sleepiness during the day may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea. Bedroom Environment Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of sleep disorders, such as loud snoring or an urge to move your legs when lying down. They may also ask for details about your sleep habits, and they may ask you to keep a sleep diary for one to two weeks. Your doctor may ask questions about the nature of your tiredness and what medications you are taking. I got nine hours of sleep each night, but woke up tired every day. Because if you're constantly tired even after sleeping "enough," your brain might be throwing up flares — not just fatigue. But we know it can be tricky for night shift workers to get quality sleep when you are forced to sleep during daylight hours. Some night shifts can be a bit slow when it comes to workload, leaving night shifters feeling unengaged, which can also lead to sleepiness. It appears that any significant deviation from normal sleep patterns can upset the body's rhythms and increase daytime fatigue. Let’s get into the seven most likely reasons your brain is running low on fuel, even when your sleep schedule looks fine on paper.For more information on the role of sleep in feeling energized, read Boosting Your Energy, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.Growing energy demands and disrupted nighttime sleep can also add to daytime fatigue.Austin is a professional writer and researcher who has covered sleep science and sleep products for over a decade.People with dementia may nap frequently during the day or experience fragmented sleep at night.Talk with your gynecologist if you’re experiencing out-of-the-ordinary fatigue or other symptoms.Managing anxiety through therapy, relaxation techniques, or treatment can help improve sleepiness and overall energy. Sometimes, with severe anemia, the heart works so hard that there are disruptions to normal heart rhythms, called arrhythmia, which can be life threatening. When anemia is severe, fatigue may be accompanied by other symptoms such as headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness (fainting, or “passing out”). If you have periodic limb movement disorder, the involuntary movement of your legs may repeatedly wake you from sleep. If you have restless leg syndrome, your legs are still, but the sensation you feel in your legs keeps you awake. The interruptions in sleep may or may not wake you, but either way are significant enough to cause havoc in your sleep cycle. If it’s missing protein, fiber, and fats, it’ll spike your sugar (and leave you snapping at Slack notifications by 2 PM.) Your brain runs on glucose (sugar), but it needs steady fuel to keep you going. So that 3 PM crash every Friday, where you cancel plans? Many causes of fatigue can be dealt with by making simple lifestyle changes. She has a clear and extensive understanding of the biological and medical sciences. Lux has a BSc(Hons) in Neuroscience from UCL, a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and experience as a postdoctoral researcher in developmental biology. They provide a responsive, efficient and comprehensive service, ensuring content is on brand and in line with relevant medical guidelines. Feeling tired is fairly common and can be caused by lots of different things, such as working too much or staying up too late. Too much booze also sets the stage for breathing issues, nightmares, and parasomnias, like walking or talking in your sleep—not exactly a restful way to spend the night. That’s because alcohol disrupts those deep, restorative stages of sleep, and you end up in lighter stages of sleep all night. A nightcap might sound like a good way to doze off—and it will technically make you sleepy at first—but it doesn’t actually set you up for a good night of sleep, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Though chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have similar symptoms, they are different disorders. Chronic fatigue syndrome is often (but not always) preceded by a virus, such as Lyme disease, a traumatic physical or psychological experience, . Like PMS, the symptoms of PMDD happen only during the luteal phase (10-14 days before a period) of your menstrual cycle. Mild to moderate depression, whether it be acute (short term) or chronic (long term) can be treated with medication prescribed by your health care provider. "You don't get into REM -- the sleep that makes you feel best," Shives says. You don't even realize it, which makes it hard to figure out why you're so sleepy during the day. This disorder keeps you from getting enough oxygen when you sleep, which means you won't get real rest during the night. "People with an underactive thyroid are going to feel tired," Friedman says. One likely reason is that your body uses lots of energy to deal with your frequent changes in blood sugar levels. When you’re tired, it’s harder to focus or get things done. If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s causing your sleepiness. Regular exercise helps boost your energy levels and improves sleep quality. If you’re always sleepy no matter how much rest you get, you might be dealing with excessive sleepiness. Sticking to a sleep schedule can help you avoid exhaustion as a result of too much sleep and ensure your body maintains its circadian rhythm. If you are one or live with one, it is beneficial to understand what keeps them from waking up refreshed, rested and on time, and to find out what you can do about it. But what makes a heavy sleeper and what is the best way to wake them up? If you never wake up to the sound of a fire truck or ambulance, and not even a bang could disturb your slumber, you may be a heavy sleeper. For example, you might need to get extra shuteye if you’re recovering from an illness or jet lag. Likewise, if sleep apnea is the root cause triggering excessive sleep, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) might be needed. Other types of chronic health conditions can also cause varying levels of fatigue. Depression is a serious medical condition, so it’s important to seek help. As a result, you can still feel a little run down, even as the rest of you is feeling better post-sickness. It’s this state of thinking that halts some of the key functions that allow your body to sleep. Worse still, if you're persistently overtired, getting to sleep can get harder and harder. How come your mind stops you from sleeping exactly when you need it the most? However, your brain, the Universe's most powerful biological supercomputer, decides it's pranking time. (Depending on when they strike, allergy symptoms can also make it harder to get good rest if they interrupt your sleep at night.) That’s because it requires your immune system to be in high gear to fend off allergens, Piper explains, and can leave you feeling wiped out as a result. When you have seasonal allergies, you’re constantly trying to keep wheezing, coughing, and a runny nose at bay—all of which suck your energy and the very will to be productive.