Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underdiagnoses this chronic condition, which manifests through recurring episodes of apneas and hypopneas during sleep, along with frequent occurrences of intermittent hypoxemia, intrathoracic pressure fluctuations, arousals, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).
OSA has the potential to negatively impact business operations, work procedures, and employee performance. According to studies, it has a significant negative impact on economic systems, increases the likelihood of injuries, and decreases productivity.
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Identification of OSA patients is a crucial public health issue due to the related morbidity and the efficacy of treatment.
In the United States, researchers have validated a protocol for screening and monitoring commercial vehicle drivers suspected or diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to reduce accidents and driving-related injuries among workers. Recently, the European Commission proposed mandating OSA and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) testing in all European nations as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing driver’s licenses, with the broader goal of including all drivers.
However, there haven’t been any comprehensive studies of the literature on OSA and workplace accidents as of yet. Previous review analyses were narrative or included papers using a variety of different diagnostic criteria, such as snoring, EDS, reduced sleep amount, or low sleep quality (self-reporting of symptoms or instrumental monitoring). Despite the absence of conclusive proof that OSA increases the risk of workplace accidents, some businesses have already established OSA health promotion initiatives. It is crucial to identify the connection between the two phenomena given the high incidence of work accidents and the higher prevalence of OSA. Nearly a third (28%) of commercial truck drivers have mild to severe sleep apnea, according to a University of Pennsylvania study funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Transportation Research Institute of the American Trucking Associations.
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Sleep apnea: What is it?
A breathing-related sleep disorder called sleep apnea results in brief breathing pauses while you’re asleep. These breathing pauses can happen up to 400 times per night and last at least 10 seconds. A critical, perhaps fatal illness called sleep apnea frequently remains undetected and misdiagnosed.
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The dangers of sleep apnea
- Although sleep apnea affects people of all ages and genders, there are several things you may do to reduce your risk, including:
- Having a narrow upper airway
- A history of sleep apnea in the family
- Being overweight, having a protruding chin, a narrow jaw, or a wide overbite, and having a large neck size (17 inches or greater for men, 16 inches or greater for women)
- Age of 40 or older, alcohol and/or tobacco use
- ethnicity
Sleep apnea symptoms
Sleep apnea symptoms include
- loud snoring
- morning headaches
- and nausea
- gasping
- choking during sleep
- impotence
- or loss of sex desire
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- irritability
- Depressive symptoms, disrupted sleep, concentration and memory issues, and frequent nightly urination.
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Finding the Sleep Apnea
Your doctor might recommend that you undergo testing at a sleep facility to identify sleep apnea. You could be required to spend the night at the facility where sleep specialists will keep an eye on you.
What Effects Does Sleep Apnea Have on Driving?
Generally, studies indicate that untreated sleep apnea increases the likelihood of individuals being involved in fatigue-related auto accidents.
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Can Someone With Sleep Apnea Still Drive?
Yes! While the FMCSA regulations do not specifically address sleep apnea, they do state that a person cannot be medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce if they have a medical history or clinical diagnosis of any condition that is likely to impair their ability to drive safely.
A motorist may, however, regain their “medically-qualified-to-drive” status after receiving successful treatment. It is significant to emphasize that successful treatment is available for the majority of sleep apnea cases.
Consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles for the rules in your State as each State establishes its own medical requirements for operating a CMV in intrastate commerce.
When you discover you have sleep apnea, what should you do?
To determine your fitness for operating a commercial motor vehicle and to seek assistance with therapy, you or your doctor should contact the medical qualifying examiner.
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What Degree (mild, moderate, severe) of Sleep Apnea Disqualifies a CMV Driver?
sleep-disordered breathing that is mild to severe enough to disqualify someone from driving safely. A driver’s medical fitness for duty must be approved by and determined by a medical examiner.
What are a Motor Carrier’s Responsibilities for Employees with Sleep Apnea?
If a driver has a medical condition, such as sleep-disordered breathing, that would impair his or her ability to safely operate the vehicle, the motor carrier may not require or enable the driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
It is crucial that patients with sleep-disordered breathingea utilize the medical advice given to them. If they are not receiving treatment, they should not drive. The best chance for a commercial driver with sleep-disordered breathing to be able to execute his or her job safely and be fully aware is to receive appropriate therapy and adhere to that treatment.
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