Discussion
www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=555
apparently this is the medical term for driving while tired.
I give up, I really do.
apparently this is the medical term for driving while tired.
I give up, I really do.
Sleep Apnea isn't *driving whilst tired*.
Sleep Apnea is a rather serious condition that can kill. Basically you stop breathing during the night. In due course your brain becomes oxygen starved and, in utter terror, kick starts breathing again. During which you wake up a bit. It interferes with sleep and suffererns become chronically tired and need to sleep *often* during the day.
In bad cases, like my Dad's, it causes minor strokes - endured during sleep - which cause brain damage - symptoms may be Alzheimer's like...forgetfulness and so on.
Its a really shit condition. My Dad (before he'd worked out he'd got it) wrote off his car - replaced it and wrote off a second. At which point he gave up driving, thank goodness.
Sadly its too late for my Dad - he now suffers forgetfulness - but there IS a TREATMENT.
A machine is attached to your schnozzle overnight and it pumps air up your nose. This extra air pressure is enough to stop the snoring/windpipe constriction that stops the breathing. No need for strokes, sufferers get decent kip once again and their life can be otherwise normal. The machine is even small enough to put in a suitcase and take on holiday.
It tends to hit older men - particularly if they are overweight. It would appear that heavy snoring is an indication of troubles to come.
If anyone on here suffers - PLEASE GET THE MACHINE - it could save your life and will certainly make your twilight years significantly more pleasant.
Sleep Apnea is a rather serious condition that can kill. Basically you stop breathing during the night. In due course your brain becomes oxygen starved and, in utter terror, kick starts breathing again. During which you wake up a bit. It interferes with sleep and suffererns become chronically tired and need to sleep *often* during the day.
In bad cases, like my Dad's, it causes minor strokes - endured during sleep - which cause brain damage - symptoms may be Alzheimer's like...forgetfulness and so on.
Its a really shit condition. My Dad (before he'd worked out he'd got it) wrote off his car - replaced it and wrote off a second. At which point he gave up driving, thank goodness.
Sadly its too late for my Dad - he now suffers forgetfulness - but there IS a TREATMENT.
A machine is attached to your schnozzle overnight and it pumps air up your nose. This extra air pressure is enough to stop the snoring/windpipe constriction that stops the breathing. No need for strokes, sufferers get decent kip once again and their life can be otherwise normal. The machine is even small enough to put in a suitcase and take on holiday.
It tends to hit older men - particularly if they are overweight. It would appear that heavy snoring is an indication of troubles to come.
If anyone on here suffers - PLEASE GET THE MACHINE - it could save your life and will certainly make your twilight years significantly more pleasant.
Tragically the reports of numbers of drivers affected were willfully exaggerated by an american company that makes the machines. I found this out when I traced back the source of the numbers put on on a TV programme (Real Story? Tonight with Trevor MacDonald?) a few months ago.
It is a real problem, but there aren't THAT many sufferers...
It is a real problem, but there aren't THAT many sufferers...
No, but they are saying a good proportion of it maybe.
Maybe I'm being too simplistic, but if someone is driving whilst feeling tired and drowsy what the hell difference does it make as to what caused it. Whether it be too little sleep self inflicted, or Apnoea(sp?) , if you're feeling tired and drowsy then you know it, and shouldn't be driving.
It's a load of twaddle to blame your consequent crash or near miss on Apnoea. Convenient excuse.
Maybe I'm being too simplistic, but if someone is driving whilst feeling tired and drowsy what the hell difference does it make as to what caused it. Whether it be too little sleep self inflicted, or Apnoea(sp?) , if you're feeling tired and drowsy then you know it, and shouldn't be driving.
It's a load of twaddle to blame your consequent crash or near miss on Apnoea. Convenient excuse.
deeps said:
No, but they are saying a good proportion of it maybe.
Maybe I'm being too simplistic, but if someone is driving whilst feeling tired and drowsy what the hell difference does it make as to what caused it. Whether it be too little sleep self inflicted, or Apnoea(sp?) , if you're feeling tired and drowsy then you know it, and shouldn't be driving.
It's a load of twaddle to blame your consequent crash or near miss on Apnoea. Convenient excuse.
As I understand it. With Sleep Apnoea chronic tiredness becomes a way of life. People that knackered (like very stressed people) get used to it. When they fall asleep at the wheel it comes with the same sense of surprise as when the very stressed get their first heart attack. Usually the stressed people change their life utterly afterwards and do their best to change the day they're going to die. With Sleep Apnoea going on a diet helps - but not quickly. The machine, on the other hand, makes an instant difference.
Before my old man got the machine he could fall asleep whilst talking to you. Now that doesn't happen. I just wish to God he'd had the machine before he had the strokes that affected his memory.
So: someone who is ordinarily overtired normally does know it: and I agree with you. Someone with sleep apnoea is normally so constantly knackered they can't tell the difference between tired and "so tired about to go to sleep". Its a horrid affliction.
I posted about this a few months back, unfortunataley it effects overwight, under exercised, older men. Now this also happens to be the classic desciption of many many lorry drivers.
A quick test of one fleet operators drivers revealed a staggering number of their drivers (can't remember exactly) had the condition or symptoms of it.
A quick test of one fleet operators drivers revealed a staggering number of their drivers (can't remember exactly) had the condition or symptoms of it.
cptsideways said:
I posted about this a few months back, unfortunataley it effects overwight, under exercised, older men. Now this also happens to be the classic desciption of many many lorry drivers.
A quick test of one fleet operators drivers revealed a staggering number of their drivers (can't remember exactly) had the condition or symptoms of it.
If you can check back to your source, I bet you'll find a commercial interest.
cptsideways said:
I posted about this a few months back, unfortunataley it effects overwight, under exercised, older men. Now this also happens to be the classic desciption of many many lorry drivers.
A quick test of one fleet operators drivers revealed a staggering number of their drivers (can't remember exactly) had the condition or symptoms of it.
This has nothing to do with sleep apnoea, they were talking about "mini sleep" phases where people can drop off for 30 seconds (complete deep sleep). Of course having sleep apnoea can affect the daily routine, however the programme was talking about these sleep phases caused by overeating (esp hi-carb), overweight and virtually no exercising, which leads to these mini sleep phases (sorry can't pin down the correct term for these).
The troubling thing is ANYONE can have these, not just the fat tired and lazy (although htese are more susceptible)!!!!!
Sleep Apnoea is a frightening thing and until properly diagnosed can be devastating (personal experience). Docs thought I might have this, had a heart attack and was checked thoroughly at the same time for this in hospital, thank goodness I don't...just heavy breathing and snoring due to a (rugby) smashed nose.......
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