Archive for April, 2012

Sleep Apnea

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

sleep apneaMore than 12 million Americans are affected by sleep apnea significant enough to require treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.” There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. With the proper sleep apnea testing it can be diagnosed and treated successfully.

We have a free online Sleep Apnea Survey on our website so can get your sleep score. Sleep apnea is a very serious condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated. This free service is for people like you who are interested in having their answers reviewed by a physician at absolutely no charge. The physician requires some basic information from you in case your questionnaire results are positive and you need to be contacted regarding sleep apnea testing. Your results and information are considered private and are protected information under Federal and State laws.

We also have a forum on our website that you can participate in and talk to others who have had testing, diagnosis and are undergoing treatment.

Fleet Driver Safety

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

fleet driver safetyTrucking company owners should know that having employees with sleep apnea diminishes their fleet driver safety and puts more than just the driver at risk. They need to have their employees with suspected sleep issues evaluated by a medical professional. If they get the treatment they need there won’t be liability risks for you. Treatment requires an individualized program that focuses on the needs of the person experiencing sleep apnea. When it comes to fleet driver safety there needs to be a complete medical history, physical examination and specific testing done in order to have it treated.

Behavioral and lifestyle changes could be mandated in the treatment of sleep apnea in truck drivers in order to ensure fleet driver safety. Those with mild cases respond well to adjustments as simple as adjusting their sleep position. Losing weight is also an option recommended to those who are overweight. Sleep apnea episodes can often be reduced by using devices that help to keep individuals on their side during sleep.

The most widely used and effective treatment method for more serious cases of sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. The patient sleeps with a CPAP mask while continuous air is forced through the nasal passages into the airways. This prevents the throat from collapsing during sleep. Doctors sometimes prescribe dental appliances for the patient to wear to control sleep apnea.