When you have a disability or chronic illness, one of the most important things you can do is to learn as much as you can about it.  The more you know, the easier it should be to get a handle on those days when you feel like it is a constant battle and you are not sure you are winning.

Knowing the language or words that go with COPD/Asthma is a great way to start or to continue to refresh a person’s knowledge of the ins and outs of the lifelong health companion which we are dealing with.

With that, we discuss some of what we call ‘must know words’ of life with COPD/Asthma – and today we will discuss briefly the importance of knowing the word(s) ‘Somnolence’.

What is Somnolence?

Somnolence is referenced as “excessive drowsiness or sleepiness”.  When you have COPD, having a problem with ‘somnolence’ could be a sign of dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide in your blood and should be checked by a physician and/or pulmonologist immediately.

While ‘somnolence’ by itself is most often referred to as a symptom rather than a disorder, the concept of ‘somnolence’ recurring at times under certain reasons constitutes various disorders such as shift work sleep disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Having a problem with ‘somnolence’ or sleepiness can cause a dangerous situation when an individual is attempting to perform tasks that may require constant concentration such as running machinery or driving a vehicle.

One thing to remember is that ‘somnolence’ is a state of having a strong desire for sleep or wanting to sleep for long periods, and can be a sign of several medical disorders or problems – including an effect from having COPD and/or severe Asthma.

The symptoms that relate to having ‘somnolence’ can be common in those with a moderate and/or severe stage of COPD and/or Asthma.

When a person with COPD and/or severe Asthma is having difficulties with drowsiness and/or sleepiness, they should check with their physician and/or pulmonologist about what may be causing the difficulty, as it could be more than just a problem with levels of carbon dioxide, it could be other parts of the body reacting to having trouble with keeping your oxygen levels up.

With that we like to ask a QUESTION OF OUR READERS – today we ask, “Do you find yourself having problems with feeling drowsy during the day or in particular after you have had even a small flare up or bout with SoB?

As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

Remember – ‘a person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer, reprinting or reuse of this article is restricted without written permission.)

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

Know that you can follow all the writings by CrossDove Writer pertaining to COPD/Asthma by following at wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

(Information gathered from various books and internet sources discussing COPD, Asthma and other lung diseases)