Sleep apnoea the big risk for drivers Researchers have once again warned of the dangers of sleep apnoea for drivers. Especially those travelling long distances and with time limitations, making breaks impossible. Sleep apnoea is a condition which affects a person’s sleeping patterns negatively, resulting in daytime sleepiness. As a driver, alertness is a pre-requisite, so fatigue is a big issue among truck drivers. According to a report recently on Australasian Transport News:

Sleep apnoea the big risk for drivers says researcher Forty percent of drivers struggle to stay awake, according to research results presented at today’s Australian Trucking Convention. Sleep apnoea, which is a condition where a person has difficulty breathing while asleep, leads to daytime sleepiness, fatigue and poor reaction times, George Institute for Global Health researcher Lisa Sharwood says. She has visited 25 truck stops across NSW and Western Australia, interviewing 517 drivers who were on rest breaks and had travelled more than 200 kilometres. They were sent home with breathing monitors to test their sleep apnoea levels, with 12 percent turning positive. Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/articleid/79494.aspx

The shocking results are that almost half of all truck drivers have difficulty staying awake while driving, regardless of the amount of sleep they have the night before. A poor diet and eating habits, as well as overindulgence in alcohol and cigarettes has a drastic negative effect on their health. Researchers are urging employers and drivers to pay attention to this disorder, so that it can be combatted. The report by Australasian Transport News goes on to state:

Forty percent struggle staying awake despite managing to have eight hours of sleep on their non-working days, and 6.7 hours whilst on shift. Half of them smoke a pack of cigarettes each day and have a poor diet and are overweight. Sharwood is proposing a national regulated concordance for medical testing of commercial vehicle drivers, saying employers need to be supportive of drivers as one driver who tested positive to sleep apnoea approached his employer about the results but was fired. “They showed the employer the test hoping for some assistance trying to do the right thing and were told to take a walk,” Sharwood says. “There is a problem and there needs to be a regulatory requirement that drivers get assistance in identifying this disorder and their health risks at large. “If somebody is not taking responsibility for the health of drivers then everybody at the road is at risk.” Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/articleid/79494.aspx

The government’s recent announcement that it would allocate a substantial amount of money into the building and maintenance of truck rest stops will hopefully aid in this regard as it will promote drivers to take breaks.  However more needs to be done to address the issue of truckies nutrition and sleeping disorders if the high number of truck crashes are to be reduced. In order to diagnose and treat this disorder it is important to know exactly what it is. Sleep apnoea affects peoples breathing when asleep. An indication is interrupted breathing or very shallow breathing when sleeping, and this prevents the person from getting a restful night’s sleep. People with sleep apnoea have very light sleep and seldom fall into a deep sleep. This results in lack of energy, lack of mental alertness and productivity the following day. This chronic sleep deprivation results in daytime sleepiness, slow reflexes, poor concentration, and an increased risk of accidents. Researchers have also linked sleep apnoea with health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes and obesity. If you suspect that you have this disorder, you should consult your doctor immediately. This condition is manageable and together with your healthcare professional it can be beaten. However there are a few things a person can do on their own to reduce its effects:

• Lose weight. Even a small amount of weight loss can open up the throat and improve sleep.
• Stop smoking. Smoking is believed to contribute to sleep apnoea because it increases inflammation and fluid retention in the throat.
• Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and sedatives, especially before bedtime, because they relax the muscles in the throat and interfere with breathing.
• Avoid caffeine and heavy meals within two hours of going to bed.
• Maintain regular sleeping hours, this will help you relax and sleep better. Get enough sleep.
• Sleep on your side, avoid sleeping on your back as gravity makes it more likely for your tongue and soft tissues to drop and obstruct the airway.
• Elevate your head off your bed or elevate your body from the waist up.
• Use a nasal dilator, saline spray or breathing strips to keep nasal passages open during the night.