Sleep Apnea: What is OSA?

Sleep is a precious commodity. Without adequate sleep, the body and mind begin to weaken causing reaction time to wane and senses to dull. New concerns are being placed on the quality of sleep that professional drivers are receiving. In some instance, the culprit is found to be Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Trucking companies are now taking steps to prevent accidents caused by this condition.

OSA is a medical condition that prevents people from an adequate amount of sleep. It is not unusual for drivers to push through the night forsaking sleep for more time on the road. While this is a dangerous practice, drivers who are actually making an effort to get enough sleep are still experiencing daytime fatigue. OSA can be the cause of this daytime fatigue but many drivers fail to recognize the symptoms or that they even have a problem.


Here are the symptoms for OSA:

Excessive daytime fatigue

Depression

Loud snoring

Gasping and stop breathing during sleep

Grogginess

Irritability

OSA affects more than 20 million people in the United States. The reason people suffer from OSA varies but obesity is one of the leading causes. An unhealthy diet, high stress, and even age affect those who suffer from this extreme form of sleep apnea.

More and more attention is being paid to the correlations between OSA and trucking and roadway accidents. Legislators are beginning to look into this connection and are now forming new laws and guidelines that deal directly with OSA. Fleet managers and trucking companies are beginning to take action and consider possible screening processes to determine if OSA afflicts drivers.

Many trucking companies are looking into OSA screening tools in an effort to cut down accidents and lawsuits ahead of any possible legislation. They are taking these preemptive actions in an effort to help truckers better understand OSA and provide treatment. One easy and new test for OSA screening is the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT).

The Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT)

PVT is considered by many as an effective way to determine if a person is suffering from OSA. The test measures alertness, reaction time, and attention span of the patient to determine if there is evidence of sleep apnea. A PVT takes no longer than 10 minutes and can be conducted within a primary care facility. The test can be interpreted much sooner than other similar examinations, which can greatly assist drivers in determining if they have OSA. For more information regarding your big truck insurance contact Brent Thunstrom at (951) 200-5655 or email him at brent@covermybigrig.com