Sleep Apnea Testing and Treatment Information
Increasing Standards for Sleepy Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed stricter standards for commercial driver sleep apnea. These proposals recommend medical examiners to thoroughly evaluate and rule out sleep apnea as a condition for these drivers. The recommendations have been presented from the medical community, an advisory panel from the trucking industry, and various advocacy interests including labor and safety.Specifically, it was recommended that any driver with the body mass index of 35 or greater should be evaluated for sleep apnea by the medical examiner. The regulation of 35 was determined to be a decisive indicator of sleep apnea. Those who...
Sleep Apnea: What Every Trucking Company Needs to Know
Sleep apnea has shown to be a prevalent and recurring diagnosis in the fleet trucking industry. By definition, sleep apnea is a temporary cessation of breathing while you are asleep. It can occur over 100 times each hour in some severe cases. It is a disorder that is treatable, however it also worsens with age and weight gain. If sleep apnea remains untreated, it can lead to serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, anxiety, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, depression, respiratory disorders, and heartburn. Untreated sleep apnea also makes the driver at 2 to 7 times more likely to...
Cost Savings Viewed As Critical Benefit of Combating Sleep Apnea
The diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea in U.S. workers suffering from the sleep condition is an ongoing battle. The cost of health care for those afflicted with sleep apnea is one of the main reasons why it is so difficult for those suffering to want to get tested and seek treatment. However, when looking at the healthcare costs resulting from untreated sleep apnea versus healthcare costs resulting from treated sleep apnea, the difference is apparent. The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASPA) is working with various fleet owners to seek treatment for OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) as an investment rather...