Truck Drivers Should Watch Out for Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Regardless of how fatigued they may feel, truck drivers are under constant pressure to meet their delivery schedules, sometimes even violating the law in order to do so.
While many people often have difficulty getting a good night’s sleep, crazy work hours that disrupt sleep cycles is a way of life for those who earn their living on the road. For some truck drivers, feelings of exhaustion may be caused by problems with sleep quality, rather than quantity. One very serious sleep disruptor is a condition known as sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Causes
Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous chronic sleep condition. As he sleeps, a person with sleep apnea goes from breathing normally to taking slow, shallow breaths, and he even may stop breathing for a few seconds. When this occurs, the afflicted individual usually transitions from a deep sleep to a light sleep, preventing him from getting sufficient rest.
While anyone can suffer from sleep apnea, truck drivers are particularly at risk for developing this condition. Most truck drivers are males between 40 and 60 years of age, and many of them are overweight. All of these factors increase the probability of developing sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Due to spending so much time on the road, truck drivers often sleep alone. This means that sleep apnea may go undiagnosed for long periods of time, since the most common symptoms are snoring and making choking sounds. Many truckers ignore other signs of sleep apnea, assuming that their condition is caused by their job and lifestyle. You should see a doctor if you regularly suffer from any of these symptoms:
- Dry mouth.
- Sore throat.
- Headaches.
- Irritability.
- Fatigue.
Sleep Apnea Dangers
When sleep apnea goes untreated, fatigued truck drivers suffering from this condition put their lives and the lives of everyone else on the road in jeopardy. They can easily fall asleep behind the wheel, causing a devastating accident.
If you recently suffered injuries in a traffic crash caused by a truck driver, you may be surprised to learn that sleep apnea could have been behind the event. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.