Professionals now believe that sleepy drivers are even more of a hazard than drunk drivers.
The rumble strips you encounter on our highways were developed primarily for this reason.
The National Highway Association estimates that drowsy drivers cause at least 100,000 automobile crashes each year.
If left untreated, sleep apnea will not go away and can ultimately cause more serious medical conditions, including such life threatening problems as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and even diabetes. The common effects of sleep disorders are
Excessive Sleepiness
This is more of an annoyance than a danger. During a sleep apnea event the person will wake several times throughout the night and experience bouts of paused breathing. As a result, in the morning the person will wake up tired and annoyed and experience throughout their day excessive daytime drowsiness. For this reason, that people who suffer from sleep apnea are often times advised not to drive until they can be treated effectively.
Lack of Concentration, Psychological Problems and Weight Gain
It has been noted that there is a severe lack of concentration among people who suffer from apnea episodes during sleep. This can affect either performance at their job as a result. It is also worth mentioning that people who suffer from sleep apnea also suffer from psychological problems as well. This will also lead to weight gain as this is brought on by an increase in appetite due to a lack of sleep.
Lack of Oxygen Leads to Heart Complications
Another danger of sleep apnea is the lack of oxygen that reaches the brain. This occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen due to pauses that occur in a person's breathing. When this occurs, your heart overcompensates in order to deliver the needed oxygen to all parts of the body. As a result of this overcompensation, areas of the heart can actually increase in size and increased high blood pressure can occur which can ultimately lead to a stroke or heart attack.
Facts About Sleep
An estimated 70 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder
One in five adults fail to get enough sleep
About 80-90% remain undiagnosed
There are at least 84 disorders of sleep & wakefulness that can lead to lowered quality of life and reduced personal health
One in three people have insomnia at some point in his/her life
Narcolepsy affects as many as 200,000 Americans, with fewer than 50,000 diagnosed
Restless Legs Syndrome may affect as many as 10% of Americans
Symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea:
Loud snoring
Breathing pauses during sleep with loud snorts/gasps as breathing resumes
Daytime sleepiness, especially in situations such as reading, watching television, highway driving or after meals
Headache, dry mouth, or sore throat upon awakening
Shortness of breath during the night
Difficulty concentrating during the day or irritability
Increased tiredness and fatigue
Sleep disorders have an enormous impact upon quality of life. Millions of individuals live much of their lives in a fog of sleepiness and fatigue. There are successful treatment options available simply by starting with a consultation with your doctor.
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In 1943, a group of Central Missouri physicians concerned about the lack of hospital facilities for their patients, met to discuss the possibility of building a hospital.
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