Recently, cases of road accidents caused by microsleeping have been making the news and shocking Malaysians. In case you’ve never heard of microsleeping, it refers to very brief periods of sleeping that can last from seconds to even minutes. Most of the time, the person who dozes off into a microsleep doesn’t even realise it’s happening.
The danger of microsleep stems from the fact that it can happen to anyone at any time, even when someone is in the middle of an important task. This means that not only can it pose a potential danger to the person, but also to everyone around them.
Recently, microsleeping among Malaysians have been apparent especially on the roads and this has led to numerous road accidents. Sometimes, these accidents can even be fatal. So if you want to avoid any mishaps, here’s all you need to know:
1. What are the causes of microsleeping?
The exact cause of microsleeping is still unknown, but it is believed to happen when some parts of the brain fall asleep while other parts stay awake. This phenomenon can be attributed to a few reasons, such as:
- Lack of sleep – this can occur if you have insomnia, or if your sleeping routine is disturbed due to staying up late or working night shifts
- Sleeping disorders – there are various sleeping disorders which might affect your quality of sleep such as obstructive sleep apnea (a condition that blocks your breathing while sleeping, which can cause daytime sleepiness), narcolepsy (a condition that causes extreme daytime drowsiness), and others.
2. Common symptoms you should look out for
The common symptoms can be difficult to detect as it has something to do with the brain. However, you can keep a lookout for these warning signs:
- Not responding to information
- Slow blinking or excessive blinking
- When you keep ‘dropping’ your head
- Inability to keep your eyes open
- Excessive yawning
- Sudden body jerks
- Inability to remember the last minute or two
3. Steps you can take to avoid microsleeping
The main step you can take to avoid microsleeping is by making sure that you get a lot of sleep. Though this may sound simple, it might not be as easy to do as we might think. As we grow older, some of us tend to have difficulty falling asleep at night, which can be solved by making a few lifestyle adjustments such as:
- Turning off any lights or sounds in the bedroom close to bedtime
- Avoid doing any vigorous activities before bed
- Going to the toilet before bedtime
- Shutting down any form of electronics when you’re in bed
- Keeping your bedroom at an ideal temperature
Secondly, if you catch yourself showing most of the symptoms of microsleeping, try to find a way to stop whatever you’re doing and take a power nap for at least 20 minutes to freshen up.
Other than that, some people prefer to consume coffee to keep themselves alert. This is also another viable option since it’s fairly easy to get our hands on coffee any time of the day. If you’re one of these people, here’s another quick and easy way for you to get your much-needed coffee boost.
Introducing the Wonda Booster that is made with 2x coffee shots to give you double the boost!
Whether you’re staying up for a night shift or catching that midnight football match, you might want to try grabbing a can of Wonda Booster. This drink is also currently available in two flavours which are:
- Wonda Booster Milk Coffee – for milk coffee lovers who prefer a rich and strong coffee taste.
- Wonda Booster Black Coffee – for those who like it plain, black and strong!
Plus, you can conveniently enjoy this drink anywhere and anytime you need since you can now grab it at any convenience & provision stores near you!
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Whether you’re a coffee person or not, the Wonda Booster can be a lifesaver (literally!) to avoid any possible microsleeping episodes on days where your eyelids feel like they weigh 10kg! But no matter what you do, always try to give yourself a break when you feel like you’re dozing off, especially while driving! Don’t end up like this…
After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?
So, the next time you feel a bit groggy, don’t forget to grab yourself a can of Wonda Booster for a quick pick-me-up and remember to stay safe always! For more information on this Wonda Booster drink, head on to their website here.
Do you know of any other ways to prevent microsleeping? Tell us below!
