According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of California in San Diego and in Canada and Colorado, sleep apnea may be the cause of as many as 567,000 vehicle crashes that cause 980 deaths and over $11 billion dollars a year.
"Most physicians and patients must be made more aware of this major, major disorder because it's very silent, and we're just now beginning to realize its impact," said Dr. Alex Sassani of UCSD, who did much of the analysis for the study.
Dr. Terrence Davidson, director of the UCSD Nasal Dysfunction Clinic and senior author of the report stated that many of his patients become absolutely exhausted because they are being awakened every few seconds. However, because they slip into the condition slowly they don't realize it's not normal. But, he says, "five minutes in the car and they start dozing off."
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Obesity
- Observed Apneas (Cessation of Breathing)
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- More Possible Symptoms
What can you do if you suspect you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea? By far the best solution is to get yourself or your loved one into a sleep lab for a sleep study. If the results reveal obstructive sleep apnea, the treatment most often prescribed is CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.
