Sleep Apnea and Truck Accidents in Arkansas

Sleep apnea and truck drivers – causes of accidentsSleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder that affects over 100 million people around the world. When someone suffers from sleep apnea, he or she temporarily stops breathing during his or her sleep. This pause in breathing can last at least 10 seconds and occurs at multiple times throughout the night. This causes interrupted sleep, which makes truckers feel more fatigued when they’re driving, even if they got the recommended hours of sleep prior to operating their vehicles.

While anyone can have sleep apnea, this sleep disorder most commonly affects men who are overweight, have a recessed chin or small jaw and who are over the age of 40. Smoking and alcohol use can also increase the chances of having sleep apnea.

Arkansas truck drivers are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with sleep apnea due to their sedentary jobs. Spending long hours behind the wheel of a truck makes it difficult to live a healthy lifestyle. Truckers may eat fast food while on the road or binge on empty carbs as a way to fill up while driving. Spending so much time on the road also makes it more difficult to exercise and remain active.

Truck drivers in Arkansas who are constantly fatigued or who snore while they sleep may be suffering from sleep apnea. While there are treatments available to help truck drivers overcome sleep apnea, they require a precise and prompt diagnosis. If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, see a qualified medical professional to undergo a sleep test. Once you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor may prescribe lifestyle changes, and possibly a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device) machine.

One of the best treatments for obstructive sleep apnea is called a CPAP machine. This is a mask that fits snugly over the nose and mouth while breathing. At night, the machine delivers air into the airways to keep them open and prevent sleep apnea. It is highly effective when used properly.

Sleep apnea results in chronic fatigue and increased risk of heart disease, strokes and other health conditions. In truck drivers, driving while fatigued can also result in deadly trucking accidents. When the body doesn’t get proper sleep, cognitive function and ability decrease. This increases the likelihood that truck drivers will fall asleep while driving or make poor decisions while on the road.

A Virginia Tech study showed that chronic fatigue and sleepiness caused 20 percent of all crashes in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigue caused an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and over $12.5 billion in monetary losses every year.

To help prevent deadly trucking accidents due to fatigue, lawmakers are now looking to screen and test truck drivers for sleep apnea. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not specifically require truckers to get tested for sleep apnea, they do require medical screening in order to safely operate a vehicle. To reduce accidents, doctors may be actively looking for signs of sleep apnea in truck drivers now. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you will be required to receive sleep apnea treatment to regain your “medically qualified to drive” status. With treatment, however, it is common for truck drivers to be able to continue driving their big rigs and commercial trucks without difficulty.