Sleep Apnea is very dangerous sleeping disorder. In sleep apnea, breathing stops and starts repeatedly when the person is asleep. This causes the person to snore loudly and feel drowsy or tired when they wake up.
Is Sleep Apnea A Serious Medical Condition
Any condition that affects your breathing when you are asleep is bound to be serious. There are three major types of sleep apneas. All three can be fatal if not taken proper care of. So if you feel like you can breathe when you sleep or you feel time even when you slept a good 8 to 9 hours then chances are that you might have sleep apnea. You shouldn’t wait any longer and visit the doctor. 28% of truck drivers could have sleep apnea according to the US Department Of Transportation.
Sleep Apnea And Driving
No matter the type, sleep apnea can cause issues for you when you drive. It can not only be dangerous for you but also for other people on the road. The person suffering from sleep apnea can blackout and lose control of the vehicle. It can also cause severe headaches which can be very annoying when you are driving.
You have to perform the traffic authorities that you have sleep apnea. If you don’t inform the respective authorities about your medical condition then in case of a road accident you might get charged for driving with a serious medical condition.
Even though most countries mention in their traffic laws that a person who is unfit and can be a medical risk should never be allowed to drive they still let drivers take out their vehicles on the road. However this also depends on the condition of the sleep apnea.
When the condition isn’t that bad, the patient can be allowed to drive however these people have to inform the respective authorities of their medical condition. Regular checkups will make sure if the person is able to drive or not. It is also good to ask your doctor about your condition. You should ask them if you can drive or if you are a risk to yourself and other people on the road.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, you should mention that while filling out the license form. If the respective authorities believe you are a medical risk, they might suspend or terminate your license permanently.
Other Effects Of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea affects your physical and mental health. It can cause other medical problems like stroke, high BP, heart attack, depression, severe headaches and ADHD.
It can make you feel tired and stressed out which might cause a decline in your productivity.
Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
There can be many symptoms that show that a person has sleep apnea;
- Your tongue or tonsils gets large
- Overweight people suffer
- Regular nasal obstruction
- Large neck
- You have other people in the family that suffer from sleep apnea
What’s The Cure?
Sleep Apnea is dangerous and you need to see a doctor before the condition worsens. Doctors would give you certain medication and if that doesn’t work that there are different procedures that carry on for days. In most of these procedures, air is blown in to the air canal so the person can keep breathing while they sleep. If you are someone who has a job or you have to drive on a regular basis for any other reason then you should see a doctor as early as possible. Not taking it seriously will make the condition worse and you will become a medical risk to yourself and everyone else on the road.
