Daytime Sleepiness

• Sleepiness during the daytime is a common problem. It generally goes unrecognized until tragedy strikes.

• Texas highways are more dangerous because of sleepiness. During 1992, it was estimated that 35,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred due to drowsy Texas drivers. Falling asleep while driving alone at night increases the risk of a fatal crash by five times. The National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research reported in 1993 that inappropriate sleepiness during the day costs the nation more than $15 billion in direct expenses and nearly $70 billion dollars in lost productivity.

• To assist physicians in their recognition of daytime sleepiness, Dr. Murray Johns of Melbourne, Australia designed and validated the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). It asks a patient to rate the chance of dozing during various daytime activities.

Sleep Facts and Statistics in USA

• More than 20% of Americans may suffer from chronic sleep loss or untreated sleep disorders.

• Poor sleep and untreated sleep apnea can contribute to weight gain, headaches, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, diabetes, depression, an impaired immune system, and attention deficit disorder.

• More than 1,500 deaths a year are caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

• Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

• Sleeping pills have many side effects, such as continued drowsiness during the day, poor short-term memory, worsening of breathing difficulties and possible addiction.

• Not sleeping for 24 hours is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol level of .10, OVER the legal limit in most states!

Sleep Apnea Statistics

• Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects breathing during sleep. It is a serious health problem which can be life threatening if undiagnosed and untreated.

• Apnea comes from a Greek word that stands for “want of breath.”

• Sleep apnea is a chronic health problem and is also a progressive condition which means it can potentially worsen over time.

• These cessations of breathing can last anywhere from a minimum of ten to thirty seconds to as much as four hundred episodes per night in individuals with severe sleep apnea.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be mild, moderate or severe. It can easily range from mild to moderate or moderate to severe. Sleep apnea affects individuals of all ages.

• Both men and women develop sleep apnea, although it is more common in men. Overweight, middle-aged men are more prone to develop sleep apnea.