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Drowsy Driving and Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Guide >> Sleep apnea side effects >> Drowsy driving

Driving drowsy is a very common problem in people with sleep apnea.

In fact, it is so common that car accident is one of the most important cause of death in drivers with sleep apnea.

Let me explain why automobile accidents are so common in our case.


You don't need to have a severe sleep apnea to sleep behind the wheel.
A simple mild apnea disorder can make you feel sleepy enough to be a drowsy driver.

Even if you stop the car and take a short nap, you'll still feel tired and sleepy.

When you are on the road, sleep apnea affects your senses that you are using to drive safety. It will be difficult to focus your eyes, to remain alert and to react quickly at driving situations.



You don't need to fall asleep while driving to have a car accident. A simple nod off or a long blink of an eye can make your car crossing into the next lane or crushing into a tree from the wayside.

Maybe this is one of the reasons why drivers denies that they are sleepy on the wheel and dangerous to others. Another reason is pride, especially in men.

They don't realize how subtle they are falling asleep behind the wheel. Sometimes a second of lack of attention is enough to have an accident.



Bottom line...if you know you have an untreated sleep apnea you should not drive.

You can continue to drive only after you are using an effective treatment prescribed by your doctor.

You can avoid to be a sleepy driver if you use a CPAP machine every time you sleep, but remember: you only need one night of sleep without CPAP to have an excessive daytime sleepiness symptom and to be in danger on the road.

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