The Effects of Sleep Apnea on the Transportation Industry

The repercussions of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can extend beyond daytime fatigue, taking a serious toll on your job performance. Sleep deprivation decreases your ability to remain alert, aware, and responsive, which is especially dangerous for heavy machinery operators, commercially licensed truck drivers, airplane pilots, and other members of the transportation industry. To ensure your safety and the safety of those around you, it is important to understand the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and seek timely treatment. At our offices in Boston, Guilford, Stratford, and New Haven, CT, Dr. Reza Radmand, with direct collaboration with your sleep physician, can review your signs and symptoms to provide effective treatment when necessary. 

Impact on Health and Safety

OSA, which is estimated to affect nearly 22 million Americans¹, has been linked to several serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, heart diseases, depression, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. Among children, sleep apnea can result in development, cognition, and behavioral problems². While sleep apnea can severely impact your personal health, it can also have far-reaching consequences for those you work with.

For patients who are rail and truck operators, feeling drowsy can lead to horrific accidents, presenting a hazard to public safety. It has been reported that nearly 20 percent of the major accidents² investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board between 2001 and 2012 found fatigue as a probable cause or contributing factor. Each year, drowsiness leads to 6,400 fatal car crashes³ in the U.S.

It has been reported that nearly 20 percent of the major accidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board between 2001 and 2012 found fatigue as a probable cause or contributing factor.

Apart from the physical perils of untreated OSA, there is also an extensive financial cost. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the economic impact of motor vehicle accidents in 2015 where undiagnosed OSA was a contributing factor was estimated to be $26.2 billion³.​

Innovative Solutions

As an option to treatment for patients to achieve a sound sleep and in turn, optimal work performance, we use offer customized oral appliance therapy. Usually, sleep apnea patients are prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device by their sleep physicians, as the first line of therapy. This system requires patients to place a mask over their nose or full face while they sleep, which is then attached to a bedside air pump. Many patients find this setup to be bulky and uncomfortable, especially if they suffer from claustrophobia. Hence, reducing compliance to this method of treatment. Oral appliance therapy is a non-invasive, convenient and more comfortable alternative to the CPAP system. While you are sleeping, this device gently moves your lower jaw forward to expand the airway passage and reduce interrupted breathing.

Why Choose Our Facility?

At Advanced Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Radmand has extensive experience providing effective treatment for sleep related breathing disorders including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Our patients are often referred to us by medical institutions such as Yale New Haven Hospital, and its affiliates, as well as the sleep specialists in the region who trust their patients to our expert team. When you visit our centers, you can rest assured that you will receive the highest quality care and personalized services.

Protect the Safety of Others

If you work in the transportation industry, it is imperative to seek treatment for sleep apnea to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. If you would like to learn more about the effects of sleep apnea and how you can benefit from oral appliance therapy, call us at (203) 689-5313 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with Dr. Radmand.

¹ www.aasmnet.org/Resources/pdf/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf

² www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19958/

³ www.aasmnet.org/Resources/pdf/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf