Keywords: 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. 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.  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.  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. 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.