Q: I always feel sleepy, whenever I start reading. Now after 13 years, I am pursuing my Post Graduation in Human Resource Management. All the subjects are descriptive and I need to study hard. I am working as well. My office timings are from 9.30 am till 6.30 pm. After such a hectic schedule, it is practically impossible to sit continuously and study. I have two children and I take up their studies also, whenever required. Normally, I study till 11.30 pm or 12.30 am if stretched, but not after that. I am very eager to learn this course, as it is going to help me in my career. How can I sit for a longer time and read properly. My elder son also has the same problem. If we sit in the morning and start studying, it becomes difficult to keep the eyes open. It happens automatically and not due to feeling sleepy. After this we get irritated and get angry with ourselves. My son is 12 years old. What is the reason behind this? What can I do to keep my eyes open while reading?

A:Each one of us requires on average 7-8 hours of sleep. Some may need only 5-6 hours and others may need 9-10 hours. So it varies from person to person. Make sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night - if despite 8 hours of good sleep at night you feel sleepy during the day then get an evaluation for sleep disorders [sleep apnoea - snore/stop breathing in sleep; narcolepsy - have sleep attacks and cataplexy (loss of muscle strength while laughing or emotional)].