Why do I feel drowsy and want to sleep every afternoon, and what should I do about it?

Feeling drowsy and sleepy every afternoon may be due to physiological reasons, or it could result from medical conditions such as insufficient cerebral blood supply or cervical spondylosis. Medication should be selected based on the specific underlying cause. The details are as follows:

1. Physiological Causes

Frequent late nights, irregular sleep patterns, or engaging in strenuous physical activities in the morning can easily lead to fatigue and excessive sleepiness in the afternoon. In such cases, symptoms can be relieved through adequate rest.

2. Pathological Causes

1) Insufficient Cerebral Blood Supply

After lunch, the gastrointestinal tract becomes active and begins digesting food. Most of the body's blood is redirected to support digestion, resulting in a relatively reduced blood supply to the brain, which causes fatigue and weakness. Treatment may include medications such as flunarizine hydrochloride capsules or betahistine hydrochloride tablets, taken as prescribed by a physician.

2) Cervical Spondylosis

Due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine, prolonged sitting or physical strain during the morning can worsen compression and irritation of cervical nerves by soft tissues such as intervertebral discs, muscles, and ligaments. This may lead to symptoms including dizziness, headache, and excessive sleepiness. Treatment may include medications such as Jingshu Granules or Jingtong Pian, taken as directed by a doctor.

In addition to the above common causes, excessive daytime sleepiness may also be caused by conditions such as narcolepsy, hypertension, or anemia. It is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment if symptoms persist, to avoid delaying diagnosis and management.