Truckers With Untreated Sleep Apnea Have Much Higher Crash Risk
by Jana Ritter - Published: 3/21/2016Sleep apnea is back in the news with a new study revealing that truck drivers with the condition who don't follow their regular treatment program are five times more likely to crash and are a public safety threat on U.S. roadways.
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It is the largest study of sleep apnea and crash risk among commercial motor vehicle drivers. The study involved 1613 truck drivers with obstructive sleep apnea and the same amount of control drivers who were matched by job experience and tenure with the trucking firm. The drivers diagnosed with sleep apnea were prescribed positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and given an auto-adjusting machine that could be used both at home and in the truck sleeper berth while on the road. The objective treatment adherence data were downloaded from the PAP machine's internal memory chip for researchers to analyze. According to the findings, the rate of serious, preventable crashes was five times higher among truck drivers with sleep apnea who failed to use PAP therapy, compared with equivalent control drivers. However, the crash rate of drivers with sleep apnea who regularly used the treatment was similar to the control drivers.
"The most surprising result of our study is the strength and robustness of the increase in the crash risk for drivers with sleep apnea who fail to adhere to mandated treatment with positive airway pressure therapy," explains Stephen V. Burks, PhD, professor of economics and management and principal investigator of the Truckers & Turnover Project at the University of Minnesota, Morris. "The results of our study support the establishment of obstructive sleep apnea screening standards for all drivers through the commercial driver's medical exam."
"This study emphasizes that untreated obstructive sleep apnea is a pervasive threat to transportation safety," adds American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Nathaniel Watson. "It is critical for transportation companies to implement comprehensive sleep apnea screening and treatment programs to ensure that truck drivers stay awake at the wheel," he added.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder affecting at least 25 million adults in the U.S. The most common frequent warning sign for sleep apnea is excessive daytime sleepiness, which can manifest as drowsy driving. The first-line treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea is PAP therapy, which helps keep the airway open by providing a stream of air through a mask that is worn during sleep.
So what if they push to do a sleep study...Ever used a cpap? I have one, and use it to every day or night....Changed my life in a good way...Once you use one, and feel the affects, you'll never want to sleep with out it. Just like some of you bitched about elogs.... Your useing elogs now, and like them..well I'm sure some of you at least.
One doctor told me I had a sleep disorder so I went to another one and he said no. Come to find out the first doctor was getting a kickback from the clinic that does the studies.
Why would I want to wear something on my face while I'm trying to sleep. If I don't need it not wearing it. Hell before you know it they'll be in the bunk with us
Why is there always a small handful that think. Just because they need something EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD NEEDS IT TOO!!! Some people need a cPap. But not near all the people. Use it and enjoy it Charlie and stop being such a Nazi. Some people need Viagra. But they don’t tell the whole flippin world about the woody it gives them. They just enjoy it!
How about they study all these obese ppl that can't hardly get their heavy duty asses in and out of the truck let alone gotta stop three or four times between the truck and the door to the truck stop to get their breath...oh yeah they're real healthy alright! !!!
Mike, you're going to offend ole Charlie. The truck stops made him heavy duty. He didn't have anybody to tell him how much to eat or not eat either. He's kinda helpless without a big brother watching his every move.
Its a facr heavier people are much more likely to get sleep apnea. Seeing that least 75% of truckers are overweight do the maths. As for Drs telling u you have a sleep disorder unfortunately the only way to diagnose sleep apnea is a sleep test. Then ask them to show u the results. The graphs that are made from the test are easy to show u and explain. Most folks can understand them. But with so many lousy trucking firms that dont offer ins and so many stupid people who wont fork out thr few bucks a week for ins ( and when they get sick have to beg on gofundme ) then sleep apnea will stay a dangerpus problem in the industry. I dont like sleeping with the dam thing on either but the effects of letting it go untreated can literally kill you
Penelope Townsend then let the government pay for it. Hell it be the only freebie many of us would get. Its funny this just started a few years back. Seems you never heard of anyone dying from it. High money maker
Penelope, nobody is against people who need a CPap getting a CPap. But some us agianst the idea ALL truck drivers should be tested every so often just because they are truck drivers!
Timothy Begle I fully agree with you Tim back in 1999 if is wasn't for a trucking company that I was driving for there Company doctor forced me to get a sleep study done and if it wasn't for that dr. Macon me getting that sleep study done I'd be dead due to the fact you lose your oxygen levels at night when you don't breathe your normal O2 stats is 96 to 98% mine was 29% at night and also anyone can have sleep apnea even a skinny person just because you might be fat doesn't mean you might have sleep apnea and also back in that day I was driving team my partner noticed me falling asleep at the wheel due to me having sleep apnea so I've been wearing a CPAP mask ever cents trust me it makes your life a hell of a lot better you feel a lot better you have more energy and you get a good nights sleep
I want to know why the trucking industry seems to used as a lab rat. If we smoke we have to have a breathing test, they want us to have sleep studies done, they want us monitored 24/7. We must be some terrible people. When did we give up our rights as citizens just because we hold a cdl ?
I think if the companys paying for testing why not. If u have it it may save yours and someone elses life. No one really dies directly of an apnea. Cause your brain wakes u up once your oxygen levels drop. Automatically. But due to the lack of oxygen and your body not shutting down it takes a toll on the other organs. Mainly heart and brain and people are more likely to die of problems related to that. Believe me its no fun when as a single woman mid fities your told u have to look like Darth Vader at night. But rather that than waking up feeling like you cant breath and hart racing etc. Also you can never just lay back and take a nap on the couch anymore. Sleep apnea effects your life more than foljs thonk.
Folks think.
Sue. Why should goverment have to pay for it. The goverment should make it mandatory for all companies to offer affordable health care. The people could, as I did get a c pap via there health ins.
Timothy Begle , Nazi were they ones controlling, not the ones that were the resistance.
Face it. They are going to push this until ALL truck drivers are required to do a sleep study. Required to even if they have no signs of sleep apnea both physically or medically. This while there is no rash nor no increase in fatigue related accidents nor has there even been. This at the costs on millions. Millions to those who have been building Sleep Clinics faster then they do hospitals. Plus, millions to those who sell the overpriced equipment. Just follow the money trail! Are there drivers who do have Sleep Apnea? Yes! They for the most part are on a cPap because their family doctor detected the problem and sent them for a Sleep Study. HOWEVER, what is being pushed now. It a One Size fits all approach, meaning ALL truck drivers are guilty. All guilty while a government agent decides what use to be what the Family Doctor decided. Because the Family Doctor has all the records and knows the driver’s health. Now go ahead you drones who love more government and costs in your lives, and call me names. I know that will be coming because we so love to think our fellow drivers are outlaws and fat pigs and only government knows better. Been there, been beat-up before.
The reason behind it is simple. People will make a fortune off of it
Its all government bullshit. I've never slept the whole night through since I was a teenager. When I was in perfect health, I never slept more than five or six hours, unless it was drug (Sleeping pill or pain meds for an injury ) induced. This is a scam. I now have arthritis and bone spurs in my neck and upper spine. It is impossible for me to sleep more than two or three hrs at a time without drugs, that I cant take because of my job. I am conditioned to this, it has been a way of life for the last ten years. I cant take a sleep test because I would never be able to pass it. I've been lucky so far that the doctors have not pegged me for sleep apnea, and know about my condition. The only recourse you have as a driver is to sue the doctor or clinic that hangs this bull shit scam on you for malpractice.
I when a teenager I only slept 5-6 HRS ,I'm 49 & still the same .I drove OTR for 4-5 years & never slept more than 5-6 HRS. It's all government bull Shit /crap as far as I'm concerned. I know a few other drivers that sleep pretty much the same amount of HRS.It just depends on the person.
Exactly right
If you have sleep apnea your heart and body are not getting the rest it needs. You are slowly dying. CPAP machine saved my life
I think it's definitely something to be aware of. I have sleep apnea and I have to use a CPAP machine. I can't sleep without it now. I really disagree with the way these companies are going about forcing the sleep study. It makes it seem like a scam.
The tests are not good they put you in a strange bed it's rockhard they give you 40 wire leads off your head and body and expect you to sleep like normal. I had one without and one with my CPAP and my co-pay for the two of them was almost $900 that right there is a bunch of crap
Damn! Big money making scam as usual. I got lucky and had it done at the VA for free.
Yeah it's a witch hunt for sure
Yep I wrecked due to falling asleep due to sleep apnea bad way to find out lucky wasn't going very fast and out in the country no one else involved little damage to truck and thanks to a great company given me another chance
The crash risk is the people on E Logs that won't stop when they are tired. I sleep when I'm tired and work when I'm not. Has worked for 41 years.
And that fuckin machine isnt gonna make me sleep when Im not frickin tired!!!
Elogs has nothing to do with it
Elogs has much to do with it. Because many drivers run as hard as the can to beat the clock. Thanks to Elogs and the present HOS regs. Drivers can't stop and nap if needed because the clock doesn't stop. Drivers are pushed because they have to get as for as the companies wish when they still have time on the clock. Thus, only one 30 minute rest break. Drivers just go go go. They don't slow down. They don't plan. They don't eat properly since they can't stop the clock to eat a proper meal. Then when the clock is about to run out. They have park just where ever they can even at places with no restrooms, showers or where there is food. If there is a fatigue problem (accident stats don’t indicate there is). But if there is. It’s not because of drivers doing a Sleep Study. It’s because of the trucking industry is so poorly regulated safety wise by the FMCSA! Everything is working against the driver and the driver’s need for proper rest in a safe parking area. Working against the driver so the driver can sleep the same hours every night and not what we have now which is always changing the resting hours. Working against the driver because the driver is not a machine that can be turned off and on like a light switch. Drivers can stop and take a short break and nap if they need. Drivers can Drivers can’t stop sit-down and eat a proper meal. All the fuel stops are Fast Food, Fast Pizza, breaded (much breaded) overpriced Sunway sandwiches, microwave food this and microwave that. Sit-down restaurants are many times less then what we had years ago. We have an industry of worn out abused drivers, who are treated like second rate citizens The whole industry is geared to push push run run drivers. Drivers who are tired and overweight because they are treated and regulated like machines instead of human beings. Sleep Apnea? It’s the least of the drivers problems. Most just need a normal life, normal sleeping hours and a good meal.
Some people are wired to drive truck, most are not, go find another industry to screw over.
you want to stop fatigue drivers get rid of the 14 hr clock and e logs or change it so if we want to take a 2 hr nap to let traffic die down it does not effect us
Show me a single crash investigation that shows sleep apnea as the cause and I'll show you a unicorn.
I have to sleep with a cpap machine, I have no choice. But if I did have a choice. I would take a hammer to the damn thing. Haven't slept solid night since. It's just a money racket by dot.
I believe sitting for hours and hours waiting on dispatch and shippers/recievers, after a break but still logged sleeper or off duty make more of a fatigued driver than sleep apnea. Unpaid at that. E logs don't help either. Every body is tense and trying to beat the clock. At least with paper logs, even if you fudge them, you could stop and get a couple hour nap in the middle of the night or when tired. Ever since they came out with CDL license it's been one new bullshit rule after another, made up by some pencil pushers who wouldn't know how to release the brakes on a big truck. Damn money making joke!
E Logs have everything to do with it. Look at all the big crashes every time it snows. Idiots hammer down racing the clock. If the government kept track of the crashes with E Logs the truth would be out of the bag. If a guy falls asleep and crashes it isn't sleep apnea it is stupidity not knowing you are tired. Geez.
Well what is the difference between my step son working 12 in a demanding factory and driving an 1 hour to get home. I just don't get it I have driven for20 years and when I get tired I stop , that's common sense that half the truckers don't have anymore along with courtesy !!!!!! Go ahead government push your bullshit laws on thru and never even driven a big truck.
Just a bunch of BS actually there's more crashes from large ATA member bottom feeder companies that really don't train their drivers before they put them on the road but rest assured they'll be able to lower their safety score thanks to the FMCSA when they purchase electronic on-board recorders speed limiters tracking devices sleep apnea testing Yeah gotta love The Illusion of safety
Thanks so much for that
Great more regulation on their way...notice to all drivers if you need to get off road and get checked out...for us adult drivers here we are tired of your lame ass not dealing with this and us being punished for your child ass.
Follow the money trail. Follow big money. If those doctors look real hard they might even figure out each patient is actually going to die one day.
Its big pharma. Thats where the money ends. You think there isnt a cure for cancer in 20fucking16, you are an idiot. Theres no money in a cure. Just like over medicating kids has led to mass shootings. Blame the guns, the sleep pattern, whatever the scenario, theres a scapegoat. Look at the big picture.
Fuck e-logs and cpap ...this new breed that's excepting this shit are nothing but pussies. Stand the fuck up and fight. It's been proven over and over that it's bullshit ..you work hard you snore ...big fucking deal ..now they are labeling kids with it for fuck sakes get a backbone. And if you think a cpap makes you sleep better your probably a chain smoker or a fat fucker. .put down the Marlboro and twinkies.
Untill we overturned the oligarchy of DOT ,thing's like this will continue. It's all about corporate control,just look into who backs these rules on the company side. They're even pushing for incab cameras.
They have it cause the government regulations forces them to drive when tired & poop when they dont have to...smh.
Some of my friends believe all the new DOT physical rules are in place to get American drivers out of the truck. Mexico's drivers are much cheaper.
Yup
Do e logs and log books actually violate your fifth amendment ? It's a tracking device that self incriminates.
Is there an age range there. I can drive 28 hours then get some shit eye for 5, bang out another 28 no problem
Anyone else agree?
A 20 year JB Hunt driver never self reported his disorder on his DOT physical. ....had a midday collision with a school bus. .. Compliance is a personal responsibility.
So was the crash fatigue related?
Study just released suggests asshole pencil jockeys who sit at desks all day writing useless articles really know nothing about truck driving!
e logs are for the goverment to keep track of what the drivers are e logs are a bunch of crap the goverment spies on all the people in the usa they dont worry about what the iilegals are doing here so to all the idiots in the white house stay the fuck out of the trucking business you idiots no nothing about trucking hell you idiots in the white house dont know what the hell they are doing in the white house
Yeah:)
Timothy, you are spot on, it is a scam like most things governmental. I have been screaming this for years.
I agree
Yep blame sleep apnea not the real problem the dam e log computer
I use one best sleep ever not waking up with a hang over
so don't wear your CPAP machine while driving...
New study sponsored by the people who manufacture the cure right?
Everytime I fall asleep at the wheel some son of a bitch blows the horn and wakes me up
Study "conducted" by crap manufacturers.
Why is this just a Trucking Issue.??? What about all of the other Occupations...
Bs The thing is you work 14/7 for weeks at a time,,,
You guys are acting like they want to cut your little dick off....and playing useing the money trail garbage..Do us a favor, just stay on the couch.
I don't have a little $!#: don't need someone testing me for stupid shit. I sleep just fine
How do you know you do.?
If someone sleeps well they know it. If someone doesn't sleep well they know it. You trying to tell us Charlie you didn't know you was tired and a danger to yourself until some government agent told you?? Long before you government drones came along. People who had sleeping problems dealt with it with their doctor. Sleep apnea and testing was around before you was even in diapers.
If that's the way you want to look at it....but I'm not sure the VA hands out almost $5,000 worth of time and equipment just because they don't have anything else to do...And yes I did know, if you read my post, you would of seen I went to my doctor
All some of you think the government is behind everything we do, and out to hurt everybody... What a sad world you live in...
Charlie you went went and did a Sleep Study because of your doctor had you do it. Yet you think EVERYBODY else and EVERYBODY else's doctor is to stupid to do the same thing. You have sleep apnea. You got help. You seem to be very unhappy about it. Stop taking your unhappiness out on everybody else by arrogantly demanding everybody else get a Sleep Study.
Your on crack...
Charlie, Talking like tweeker High School kid isn't going to help sell your case. You got to come up something more then people are stupid if they don't all do a Sleep Study! Surely when your doctor recommended you do a Sleep Study. The doctor had more reason then you're a dumb truck driver? I would think you got a better doctor then that? I’m inclined to think he or she recommended you do a Sleep Study, because you had the symptoms of Sleep Apnea.
Charlie is a fall in line sheep type that doesn't look at the money trail and who is involved in pushing it. I knew I had a problem and sought help from my VA doctor, but I don't think it should be mandatory for everyone.
And your a idiot that dosent want to know that you may have a problem, and don't want to do anything about it...baaa, baaa.
Poor Charlie, he has to be told when to go to bed at night too. Plus, when he can or can't drive. Or when he needs a 30 minute break. Plus, needs a speed limiter to control his speed because he can't. He's a very bad boy, so he needs a camera looking at him when he drives that can also automatically save the picture of him when he crashes. He also needs to work for one of those mega-carriers that has a driver manager so he knows when to leave on a trip and explain to him when he will arrive. A manager to help him manage his time because the old tweeker lost half his brain cells at Woodstock.
BTW Charlie. If you could comprehend what James Maxwell said. You would have seen he said he knew he had a problem and went to the VA doctor. You do know what the VA is right? You do know they have medical doctors right? You do know they can treat any kind of problem a body may have right? Or can’t you? I’m sorry you need a government agent to hold your hand though life don't you!
Charlie Johnson it would be "an" idiot. Second your reading comprehension is poor. I said that I went to my primary care doctor because I knew that I had a problem. I did a sleep study and now have a CPAP machine.
Charlie must own CPAP machine stock. How is that Pfizer doing?
No shit........other drivers are affected by this also........always something, that's life
Fuck this government. Maybe they'll just regulate all truckers right out of the industry. Guys over 60 are retiring, kids don't want anything to do with it, middle aged guys are changing careers...it's not enjoyable anymore at all.
It's a way to target the overweight Drivers.
Then they should make the four wheelers do the same
Paper loggs will help them stay awake they won't be driving tired
Tired drivers are because they stay up playing video games or talking on the cb. Should be resting
What's bs is they only test over weight people for it. I know people who are under weight who have it.
Forced to drive when they need a break
when the idiots in the white house start paying my truck and trailer and my insurance and paying my bills then i might do what they want until then they can kiss my ass
Stay out of my fucking bedroom!
And all of those studies or rigged
More propaganda!! Follow the money!!
They can shove it!
This is such bull shit!!!!
It's a God damn money Grab
Oh boy
Bull Hockey !
Bullshit
Bullshit
Bullshit!
Shut*
Hog wash
True
I call bs
Bullshit
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