Although seemingly completely different, lack of sleep and alcohol impairment can actually have the same negative effect on your ability to drive! We have all been tired on a long drive home, but the evidence below is a real eye-opener!
Evidence accumulated in the last 10 years adds to the already compelling case that driving a car while not properly rested produces similar risks as driving under the influence of alcohol.
A study was published in early 2016 and found people with obstructive sleep apnea were 2.5 times more likely to be the driver in an accident than people without the sleep disorder. Fortunately, the study also found CPAP therapy was effective at reducing the rates by up to 70 percent if the person used the therapy for an average of four hours every night.
At Snore MD sleep clinics, our patients have compliance over DOUBLE the industry standard in Canada.
“Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause you to wake in the morning feeling tired and unrefreshed despite a full night of sleep,” said Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Insufficient sleep has been classified as a public health epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as nearly 40 percent of people report unintentionally falling asleep at least once in the past month. But the risks increase even further when those setbacks are applied to a mundane activity, like driving a car. In 2010, a recent study found 20 to 25 hours of sleep loss resulted in the same levels of depleted brainpower as a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.10.
At Snore MD, great sleep for our patients is our passion. Treating your snoring, sleep apnea and many other sleep disorders will help you stay healthier, happier and safer on those BC roads!
About the author:
Michael Davis is Snore MD’s Director of Optimal Patient Care and community awareness. Driven by a passion for quality of everyday life, Michael became a Respiratory Therapist in 2009 with the goal of helping Canadians sleep better. With experience in critical care medicine, sleep medicine and pulmonary disorders, Michael leads a team of 15 skilled Sleep Clinicians and Respiratory Therapists to help thousands of British Columbians Sleep Better – Live Better.
