If you're having trouble staying awake while driving, the only short-term solution is to pull over at a safe place and take a short nap or have a caffeinated drink. Research shows that loud radios, like chewing gum and open windows, fail to keep sleepy drivers alert. Arrive Alive . Sleep disorders are mainly due to worry or psychological problems. However, stress accounts for only a fraction of the people who suffer either chronic insomnia or difficulty staying alert during the day.
Sleep disorders have a variety of causes.
Sleep apnea, for example, is caused by an obstruction of the airway during sleep. Narcolepsy, which is characterized by severe daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks, appears to be genetic. No one knows yet what causes restless legs syndrome, in which creepy, crawly feelings arise in the legs and are relieved, momentarily, by motion. The human body never adjusts to night shift work. This affects when we feel sleepy and alert.