Driving while drowsy can impair driving performance as much as alcohol studies have shown.  Analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data estimates drowsy driving is a factor in nearly one in six fatal crashes. The  AAA Foundation recently published a study showing that two out of five drivers surveyed (41 percent) admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel at some point. Many recent tragedies involving bus or truck accidents have been found to involve drowsy driving

The American Thoracic Society just released new clinical practice guidelines on sleep apnea, sleepiness and driving risk for non-commercial drivers. Commercial drivers, those who drive for a living, usually are required to undergo screening by their employers. The new guidelines for physicians include:

• All patients being evaluated for suspected or confirmed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) should be asked about daytime sleepiness and recent motor vehicle crashes or near-misses. These patients should be considered high-risk drivers and warned about the potential risks of driving until an effective therapy for their apnea is found.
• Patients who are suspected of having OSA should have a sleep study and treatment begun as soon as possible rather than waiting until it is convenient.
• For patients with suspected or confirmed OSA who are high risk drivers should not be given stimulant medications for the sole purpose of reducing driving risk.
• Doctors should develop a plan to inform patients and their families about the risks of drowsy driving and other risks of excessive sleepiness.

The guidelines  suggest CPAP therapy for all patients. While CPAP is the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea about half of patients either can’t tolerate CPAP at all or they only use the device part of the time. Reasons for not tolerating CPAP vary but common ones include: feeling claustrophobic, recurrent eye infections, masks that don’t fit, rashes or sore throats.

Oral appliance therapy is a proven alternative to CPAP and most patients find sleeping with an oral appliance is no problem. There are no masks, hoses or machines to clean and disinfect. A small mouthpiece works with the body to place the jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep. Comfortable, easy to care for and easy to travel with, oral appliances are quickly becoming the treatment of choice for many OSA patients.

Find out more by contacting Columbus sleep apnea dentist Dr. Mark Levy today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.