Microsleep

Symptoms of microsleep:

 Not responding to information

 A blank stare
 Dropping your head
 Experiencing sudden body jerks
 Unable to remember the last one or two minutes
 Slow blinking

Warning signs:

 An inability to keep eyes open

 Excessive yawning
 Body jerks
 Constantly blinking to stay awake

Sleep deprivation can be a chronic or acute condition in which you don’t get enough sleep. About 1-5 adults are sleep-deprived,
which results in:

 Excessive daytime sleepiness

 Irritability
 Poor performance
 Forgetfulness

Lack of sleep has also been linked to:

 High blood pressure

 Obesity
 Heart attacks

A lack of sleep is a risk factor for microsleep. This can happen if you have insomnia, work a night shift, or don’t get enough quality
sleep for other reasons. You may also experience microsleep if you have sleep disorder:

 With obstructive sleep apnea, a blockage in your upper airway interrupts breathing while sleeping. As a result, your brain
doesn’t receive enough oxygen during sleep, which can trigger daytime sleepiness.
 Narcolepsy causes extreme daytime drowsiness and intermittent uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep.
 Periodic limb movement disorder
 Circadian pattern disorders

Microsleep treatments

 A healthy amount of sleep for adults can range from 7-9 hours.
 Avoiding caffeine and liquids before bed, especially alcohol if you’re already tired
 Turning off any surrounding lights or sounds
 Avoiding stimulating activities before bed
 Keeping your bedroom at a comfortable temperature

While driving (signs that you need to pull over)

 Drifting out of your lane

 Repeated yawning
 Missing exits
 Heavy eyelids