{"id":1454,"date":"2021-07-28T20:38:32","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T20:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=1454"},"modified":"2021-07-28T20:38:32","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T20:38:32","slug":"crash-risk-how-these-three-sleep-disorders-increase-your-risk-of-accidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/28\/crash-risk-how-these-three-sleep-disorders-increase-your-risk-of-accidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Crash Risk: How These Three Sleep Disorders Increase Your Risk of Accidents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The health consequences of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and other sleep disorders are vast. Heart conditions, diabetes, obesity, mental health<\/a> concerns, and other short- and long-term associated conditions are directly linked to these disorders. And, the more research that\u2019s done on sleep disorders, the more troubling the findings become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s well known that sleep disorders can become life-threatening, what\u2019s not often discussed is that sleep disorders can fatally injure you in other, non-health related ways. In fact, there are three common sleep disorders that are directly linked to car crashes and other unintentional fatal injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what we know about your increased chances of being in a motor vehicle accident, or an incident that results in a fatal injury, if you suffer from sleep apnea, insomnia, and\/or shift work sleep disorder. While perhaps shocking at first glance, the below research is important to urge anyone with these conditions to seek, and stick with, treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Original Two Offenders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2014, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) released a statement<\/a> explaining that insomnia is a major contributor to fatal car crashes and other unintentional fatal injuries. Their findings revealed that individuals with severe insomnia were 2.8 times more likely to die from a fatal injury. Difficulty falling asleep was the symptom that was most closely tied to the various cases involving death related to insomnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then in 2015, the AASM released another statement<\/a>\u2014and this time, sleep apnea was the focus. They found that patients with sleep apnea were nearly 2.5 times more likely to be the driver in a motor vehicle accident and that sleep apnea treatment reduced the risk of car crashes among those with sleep apnea by 70%.One year later, the AASM would go on to declare<\/a> sleep apnea as a \u201chidden health crisis in the United States.\u201d There are many reasons for this decision, including the fact that sleep apnea is behind millions of dollars going to work and auto accidents each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dangers of Shift Work Disorder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is an additional sleep disorder that holds fatal consequences on the road: shift work disorder. Shift work disorder, which is caused by a person working long and\/or irregular hours, can negatively affect circadian rhythms, causing<\/a> disrupted sleep and excessive sleepiness while awake.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of 2021, it\u2019s been estimated<\/a> that somewhere between 10-40% of shift workers in America suffer from shift work disorder. The two primary symptoms<\/a> of the disorder are insomnia and excessive sleepiness, resulting in fatigue and a reduction in alertness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Sleep Foundation, shift work disorder can bring about serious health complications, including life-threatening medical conditions, alcohol and drug dependency, and unhealthy eating habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, a recently published study<\/a> revealed that shift work disorder puts individuals at high risk (300% increase) <\/strong>for being in a car accident\u2014and the risk only increases with age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For comparison, both insomnia and sleep apnea increase the risk for car crashes by 30 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing Shift Work Disorder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few different ways<\/a> that those who suffer from shift work disorder and those who typically work irregular hours can maximize the amount of sleep that they are receiving. After all, no matter what your schedule is like, it\u2019s important to receive 7-9 hours of sleep each and every day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n