How do you feel when you awaken in the morning?

Are you refreshed and ready to start the day? Or do you feel like you haven’t slept a wink even though you may have slept for several hours? Do you awaken with a dry mouth and morning headache? Do you find yourself falling asleep in the middle of the day? Does your spouse complain that you snore loudly?

How do you know when it’s sleep apnea?

These symptoms could be signs of a disorder called sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

There are two main types of sleep apnea:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea: the most common type, which occurs when throat muscles relax.
2. Central sleep apnea: in this type, the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

How does sleep apnea affect you as a driver?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association notes that sleep apnea is a major contributor to daytime drowsiness and can prove deadly for commercial truck drivers and involved passenger vehicles.

Drivers with sleep apnea have compromised driving performance, leading to the increased risk of crashes. A study conducted by FMCSA found that individuals with sleep apnea perform as poorly as individuals with blood alcohol concentrations exceeding the legal limit.

Sleep apnea management is part of passing the DOT physical. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor for help in controlling sleep apnea:

1. Snoring loud enough to disturb the sleep of others or yourself
2. Shortness of breath that awakens you from sleep
3. Intermittent pauses in your breathing during sleep
4. Excessive daytime drowsiness.

A simple test can determine whether or not you have sleep apnea. Treatments are available to help you control sleep apnea and get a restful night’s sleep. Comment here.

For more information, check out the issues section on our resources page or contact us. You can also call our toll-free Trucker Prayer Line at 1-877-797-PRAY (7729). We’re here for you.

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