Sleep disordered breathing and driving.

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), CPAP, CPAP alternative, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), sleep apnea, oral appliance, apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), Dental Sleep Medicine, and Orofacial Pain.

In Italy, a medical journal reported that drivers with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) faced a greater risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash and affirms that the effective use of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can reduce a driver’s chances of being involved in an accident. This review also mentions that OSA is a common sleep disorder with commercial drivers who operate heavy vehicles and its treatment can help reduce the number of road-related deaths. While OSA is the most common sleep disordered breathing and is a condition that can severely impact one’s health, work functionality, and lifestyle, the studies have shown it can be effectively treated with CPAP.  Dr. Stan Farrell, a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and board certified with the American Board of Orofacial Pain, has extensive training in treating sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.  AZ TMJ offers one of the leading alternatives for the CPAP, which is an oral appliance that can be used in conjunction with a CPAP or as a stand-alone oral appliance depending on the severity of the individual’s OSA.  If you think you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, call Dr. Farrell at 480-945-3629 to set your consultation and visit AZ TMJ at www.headpaininstitute.com.

Accattoli MP.

Abstract:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common Sleep Disordered Breathing. OSA is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crash and effective treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces that risk to the one of the general population. In commercial drivers an excessive prevalence of OSA has been reported, and the contribution of heavy vehicle crashes to road-related deaths appears to be substantial. Thus, assessment of the risk of OSA and development of effective methods to identify and treat professional drivers with OSA is necessary. Nevertheless, until now there is no consistency in the way OSA is considered by the Driving License legislations within the member countries of the European Union (EU), and most ignore OSA, even for professional drivers. The inclusion of OSA in the European traffic license regulations would represent a step forward towards driving safety.