Randy Grider is editor of Truckers News. He is the son of a career trucker and holds a CDL. He blogs regularly at truckwriter.wordpress.com. Write him at rgrider@rrpub.com.

Sleep apnea proves to be serious problem you can’t afford to ignore

To many, sleep apnea sounds much ado about nothing. It doesn’t seem to belong in the same nomenclature with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other scary health issues. But don’t sell sleep apnea short; it is a serious problem.

In layman’s terms, sleep apnea means you stop breathing several times during each hour of sleep. Your body finally goes into survival mode and “wakes” you up to start breathing again. This may happen 20, 30, 40 or more times each hour. This is very much like someone constantly poking you to try to wake you up. It’s impossible for you to get the restorative sleep your body needs. Over a period of time it takes a real toll on your well-being.

There are three basic types of sleep apnea: the most common is obstructive sleep apnea (airways blocked by fatty tissues), central sleep apnea (the brain’s respiratory centers are imbalanced) and complex sleep apnea (a combination of both those forms).

Many drivers get caught up in the Big Brother aspect of potential regulations that could require screening and treatment for sleep apnea. We’ve all heard BMI (body mass index) and neck size figures that could trigger testing for commercial drivers. But what doesn’t get emphasized enough exactly why it’s important to be proactive with diagnosing sleep apnea.

After weeks of researching sleep apnea, visiting fleets and sleep clinics and talking with experts, I’ve seen why the condition is such a threat — undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea is a real health crisis. It can kill you — either directly by causing you to fall asleep while driving or indirectly by contributing to other health problems. In the best-case scenario, it may only shorten your life.