According to the National Council on Aging, over 30 million people in the United States have sleep apnea, with most cases going undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where you stop breathing while you’re asleep. This can be very dangerous in that it will prevent you from getting a good night’s rest, leaving you fatigued and restless. This poses a great threat to individuals who are required to stay highly attentive and focused for hours on end, such as commercial truck drivers. The prevalence of sleep apnea amongst commercial truck drivers is profound, as almost one-third have mild to severe cases. Drowsy driving caused by sleep apnea is extremely dangerous to not only truck drivers, but all vehicles on the road.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
There are many symptoms of sleep apnea, and every case is unique. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Snoring
- Sleepiness during the day
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- Irritability
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Mood changes
- Pauses in breathing or unusual breathing patterns while sleeping
- Difficulty paying attention
Types and Causes of Sleep Apnea
There are two main types of sleep apnea, both of which can cause severe health implications if left untreated.
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): OSA occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked while you are sleeping due to your throat muscles relaxing, thus interfering with your ability to breathe.
- Central sleep apnea (CSA): CSA occurs when your muscles and nerves lack adequate activation for breathing while you are asleep, thus causing pauses in airflow.
Here are some of the main causes that are seen in both types of sleep apnea:
- Being overweight
- Allergies
- Smoking
- Family history
- Deviated septums
- Old age
- Medical conditions such as heart failure and high blood pressure
Prominence of Sleep Apnea in Truck Drivers
There are a few main reasons that truck drivers are more susceptible to sleep apnea, all of which revolve around their general lifestyles and working environment. In a survey conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, it was found that truck drivers are more likely to smoke, be overweight, and are less physically active than other workers throughout the United States. It was reported that:
- Truck drivers were two times more likely to be obese compared to other U.S. workers.
- Truck drivers were two times more likely to smoke compared to other U.S. workers.
- 75% of truck drivers do not get the recommended amount of physical activity each day.
Can You Lose Your Commercial Motor Vehicle License if you Have Sleep Apnea?
In order to operate a commercial truck, drivers must obtain a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) license. To obtain this license, one must pass a series of tests, including a medical examination. While restrictions regarding sleep apnea are not explicitly stated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, they do state that a person with a medical history that impedes or interferes with one’s ability to drive safely cannot be medically cleared. Thus, you might lose your CMV license or be unable to obtain one if you do not pass this medical test. However, if you treat the diagnosis appropriately, you might successfully be able to regain or obtain your CMV license.
Drive Safely
Suffering from sleep apnea as a commercial truck driver presents a severe threat to everyone on the road. A lack of alertness and a predominance of sleepiness can result in a severe truck accident, which requires the assistance of an experienced Van Nuys truck accident lawyer. If you are a commercial truck driver, it is important that you are aware of the common symptoms and potential risks that come along with driving with an untreated sleep apnea diagnosis. Failure to actively treat or diagnose sleep apnea can be life-threatening, and even fatal. Drive safely and stay awake on the road!