Sleep Apnoea – A disaster waiting to happen?

Awake Press Office
06/12/2005

Sleep Apnoea – A disaster waiting to happen?
Awake is working to inform industry and drivers about the dangers of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

What is Sleep Apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is a fairly common sleeping disorder in which breathing stops during sleep for 10 seconds or more. In some cases, this might happen more than 300 times per night. Over the course of an average night’s sleep, these brief stoppages lead to disruptions in restful sleep, which can have serious effects on your waking life. Of course, badly broken sleep increases daytime sleepiness, which can become dangerous if a person doses off, for example, whilst driving. This condition can often go unrecognised, unless detected by a witness to the apnoea episodes during sleep. Combined with the other pressures of the 24/7 society, sleep apnoea is contributing to a groggy and poorly rested workforce. The worst part of this problem is that so very few non-specialists understand how widespread it is.

Research has shown that there are two main types of sleep apnoea. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is thought to be due to mechanical blockage of the airway. Central Sleep Apnoea appears to be related to a malfunction of the brain’s normal signals to the body to breathe.

According to research carried out by the National Sleep Foundation (USA), about 18 million adults are not getting enough sleep because of sleep apnoea. Suffering with sleep deprivation will make you feel tired and groggy, which leads to poor productivity at work and can result in dangerously bad driving habits.

What are its Effects?
The most typical symptoms of sleep apnoea may include falling asleep while driving and/or during the day, restless sleep, loud and heavy snoring (often interrupted by silence and then gasps), morning headaches, loss of energy, trouble concentrating, and mood or behaviour changes.

Fatigue and its impact on decision making is a global issue that has emerged with the extended hours of work required to service our 24/7 society. Work-related fatigue and consequent changes in alertness, reaction time, decision making and communication are all major risks for workers and buisnesses.

According to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston – a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School - some of the most obvious and potentially hazardous risks associated with sleep apnoea include:

1. A greater chance for accidents - especially road accidents - due to inattention and inability to stay alert during normal waking hours.

2. Increased risk of stroke

3. Higher risk of heart disease

What can you do about it?
There are a variety of treatments available for those that suffer from sleep apnoea, including medications, behavioural therapy, and, in extreme cases, surgery. But the important first step is identifying it.

Diagnostic methods that have been scientifically evaluated include an analysis your health history, a detailed physical examination, the audio taping or videotaping of sleeping subjects, and more technical measurements such as pulse oximetry, abbreviated polysomnography, and full polysomnographic investigation. More details about these approaches and sleep questions more generally can be found online at the following websites:

http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.net/osa/

http://www.sleepquest.com/s_osa.html

http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2279.html

While Awake does not treat sleep apnoea, we do offer basic front-line tiredness assessment services, which can be the first step in recognising the problems it is causing.

1. Scientists at the Awake research affiliate – Loughborough University Sleep Research Centre – have an extensive and distinguished record of dealing with sleep research issues, and are one of the only full service sleep research labs in the UK and Europe. They regularly conduct laboratory studies on the processes of falling asleep at the wheel and are evaluating and developing practical methods for drivers to overcome sleepiness. The Loughborough research work also has various medical and legal implications, especially when it must be determined that drivers who fall asleep at the wheel are aware of sleepiness beforehand.

2. Awake offers specialised assessment of potential sleep apnoea cases, and can offer consultation services on how your organisation can manage its effects.

3. Getting a good night sleep is essential for your overall well-being. However, many people don’t realise that they are often sleep-deprived because of breathing problems. According to studies in the United States, over 90 percent of people who snore are at risk for sleep disordered breathing, or some form of sleep apnoea.

Contacting Awake
Our research-based approach into the management of issues related to sleep and waking has enabled us to develop strategies for addressing the problems of fatigue in the workplace, at home and on the road. Awake currently offers specialised assessment and advisory services which can include identifying possible instances where sleep apnoea is affecting you workforce.

We currently offer specialised training and assessment packages to the UK logistics, petrochemical and emergency services sectors, and are expanding our portfolio of services to deal with more aspects of the developing 24 hour society.

To discuss what Awake can do for your organisation, do not hesitate to contact us.