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Sleep Disorders and How They Affect Truck Drivers
In the last year in America, almost 2 million truck drivers experienced near misses or actually crashed, causing death or injury to thousands. Many of these drivers are suffering from OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). The risk is higher for those drivers employed commercially, as they use the roads more frequently than those in the private sector.
OSA is known as a silent disease, suffered by 18 million Americans, yet largely undiagnosed. In fact, up to 95% of sufferers are unaware that they have sleep apnea, known to cause high blood pressure; obesity; Diabetes; heart disease and stroke. Sufferers experience hundreds of breathing arrests throughout a night’s sleep, causing oxygen levels to drop dramatically.
The condition is usually caused by a blockage in the throat through fatty tissue and causes daytime fatigue and drowsiness; fatal for truck drivers, 2.4 – 3.4 million of whom are thought to be sufferers in the US. Obese truck drivers are thought to be more susceptible to drivers fatigue and it is thought that screening for OSA could significantly reduce the risk of accidents. Findings were a result of a recent survey conducted by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: 450 drivers were studied, 17% of whom met the screening criteria.
As a result of these studies, a large number of drivers were referred to undergo effective treatment that is available for OSA. However, many of the drivers failed to take the opportunity to be properly tested for sleep apnea following referral. “Truck drivers with sleep apnea are much more likely to fall asleep at the wheel and the condition is increasingly common as Americans become more obese,” said Stefanos N. Kales, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Employee and Industrial Medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance. Dr Kales was the senior author of the study and also observed that drivers who suffer from OSA often do not report their symptoms or follow through recommendations for further testing and treatment.
Certainly it is obvious that unless truck drivers are required legally to undergo OSA screening, accidents will continue to be caused by sleep disorders. Drivers should ideally be prohibited from driving until they have sought appropriate treatment for OSA, an issue that is being considered by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), based on obese drivers’ BMI (Body Mass Index).
The law as it stands requires that drivers seek medical certification every two years to comply with conditions imposed within the terms of their licences but this certification does not require testing for OSA, largely due to the lack of medical awareness of the seriousness of OSA on the part of heath professionals: the condition is under diagnosed and as result, truck drivers requiring treatment are achieving certification from doctors who are not familiar with the risks. The implementation of sleep apnea screening by the FMCSA would offer the advantage of the connection between truck drivers and sleep apnea being detected within safety examinations, making the roads safer for everyone.
About the Author
The Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute in Los Angeles is recognised as a pioneer in sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment. Patients are tested for sleep apnea either in the comfort of their own home or in the Aviisha Los Angeles sleep labs. Aviisha provides the most advanced and thorough treatment for sleep apnea and provides patients with discounted rates for auto CPAPs and other sleep aids.