Driving with sleep apnea, especially untreated sleep apnea could result in falling asleep at the wheel.
Is this a typical morning for you?
You grab your coffee and hit the road for your 20 minute commute. You step into your car still tired even though you went to bed early the night before. After 10 minutes, you are fighting to stay awake.
In one short blink, you could find yourself stuck at the bottom of a ditch. This could be a result of sleep apnea. At one point or another, we may step into our vehicles still extremely tired. If this is a common occurrence, day after day, you need to contact your healthcare professional, as this pattern is extremely dangerous for you and others on the road.
What Makes Driving with Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Sleep apnea affects your sleep and if you are unable to achieve the full night’s rest your body needs, you may remain tired and drowsy the next day. Driving requires us to stay alert and to quickly react to ever-changing conditions and situations. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have been shown to have up a seven times increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
Some people driving with sleep apnea say they have never fallen asleep at the wheel. However, you do not necessarily have to fall asleep to be involved in a collision. Having difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, heavy eyelids, daydreaming, and wandering or disconnected thoughts are all signs of drowsy driving, and could lead to a dangerous or even fatal accident.
What Should I do to Prevent Driving with Sleep Apnea?
If you are falling asleep during work or feel excessively tired throughout the day, CPAPCentral.com recommends contacting your healthcare professional right away. The dangers of driving with sleep apnea can be reduced with sleep apnea treatment. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attacks, in addition to increasing your risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, be sure to select top-quality sleep apnea equipment from CPAPCentral.com and use your CPAP machine every night. If you have any questions about sleep apnea machines or submitting a prescription, call CPAPCentral.com today!