Sleep Apnea and Truck DriversIf you are a truck driver chances are you have heard of Sleep Apnea but you do not know exactly what it is. I will try to enlighten you from my own experience of what Apnea is and how to get diagnosed and get treatment. Let me tell you my sleep apnea symptoms and you can see if they apply to you. I would take my normal break after driving my truck an sleep for 8-10 hours. I was getting up 3-4 times a night to urinate, always tossing and turning and waking up tired. I would drive and need a nap after a couple of hours. Everything made me drowsy, a meal, driving with the sun in my face, reading a book or magazine. At the time I didn’t know that these were symptom of apnea. I thought my urinating problem was a prostrate problems or just drinking too much during the day. I finally went to my doctor where he recommend I get checked for sleep problem . He explained to me that apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Apnea disrupts blood flow to your brain, which causes the blood pressure within the brain to elevate. This may explain why people with apnea are more likely to suffer stokes and die in their sleep. You may have apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep. Apnea usually occur during sleep. When an apnea occurs, sleep usually is disrupted due to inadequate breathing and poor oxygen levels in the blood. Sometimes a person wakes up completely, but sometimes this can mean the person comes out of a deep level of sleep and into a more shallow level of sleep. An not getting the proper rest.
Apnea occurs in two main types: obstructive apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Additionally, some people have complex apnea, which is a combination of both. Apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound. Apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights each week. This results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. Are you at Risk for Sleep Apnea? Apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. However, risk factors for sleep apnea include: * Male gender * Being overweight * Being over the age of forty * Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women) * Having larger tonsils * Having a family history of sleep apnea Here are some common symptoms of Sleep Apena Are you a loud and/or regular snorer? Have you ever been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep? Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache? Are you often tired or fatigued during the wake time hours? Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving? Do you often have problems with memory or concentration? If you have these symptoms please consult your physician and ask him/her about getting tested for apnea. Untreated apnea can: * Increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. * Increase the risk for or worsen heart failure. * Make irregular heartbeats more likely * Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents
The NTSB is advising that medical experts question truck drivers about apnea, and has sent a letter to the FMCSA about this recommendation. A task force of medical experts is calling for new screening procedures for obstructive apnea among truck drivers of commercial vehicles. In many cases, apnea now is treated not by medication or surgery but by having the patient simply wear a breathing mask through which air gently flows, to keep the airways clear. Lifestyle changes,mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat apnea in many people. Read more on Sleep Apnea Machines I was diagnosed with apnea and now wear a CPAP mask at night. It does take some getting use to but it has helped me. I no longer have to get up at night to urinate. I awake after getting a full night of sleep and I'm no longer tired all day long. Most people with apnea don't know they have it. Ignoring it could put your life and those around you at risk. If you have any of these symptoms and think you might have apnea talk with your doctor and get tested. Most insurance will pay for the sleep study and the CPAP mask. It is well worth it. And it may very well save your life. You can learn more about what the Sleep Study entails by Clicking Here Return from Sleep Apnea to Smart Trucking Jobs Home Page  Custom Search
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