Sleep Apnea and the Hazards of Driving
Apr 11, 2015
Many cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be resolved with sinus surgery such as septoplasty and turbinate reduction surgery. But when sleep apnea goes unchecked, the results can be dangerous for everybody involved – even other drivers on the road with you.
A new study in the journal Sleep found that drivers are 2.5 times more likely to get into an accident if they suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Understandably, doctors and researchers have pounced on the news as an important motivator to seek help:
“Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause you to awaken in the morning feeling tired and unrefreshed despite a full night of sleep,” said American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler. “Effective identification and treatment of sleep apnea is essential to reduce avoidable, life-threatening accidents caused by drowsy driving.”
The patients in that study improved with the aid of a CPAP machine, but it follows that a permanent surgical solution would have much the same effect. To learn more about the causes and treatments of sleep apnea, visit the Los Angeles sinus surgery experts today.