Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 crashes a year, resulting in an estimated 1,550 deaths, according to the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Federal Department of Transportation reports one out of every three trucking accidents is sleep related. The National Sleep Foundation has compared drowsy driving to driving drunk. Statistics show that being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content of 0.05. Being awake for 24 hours is similar to having a BAC of 0.10. We need to start seeing sleep as a important part of health. It isnt a luxury, Willey says. Lack of sleep can impact your dayto-day functioning and your life expectancy. If you get behind the wheel of a car and havent had adequate rest, your chances of having an accident increase dramatically. Sleep disorders including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndromeare common, Willey adds. Individuals with untreated obstructive sleep apnea are up to seven times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel according to The National Sleep Foundation. More than 18 million Americans suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea and 90 percent go undiagnosed. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious health condition, and snoring is often the first symptom noticed. Although snoring is generally viewed as a minor annoyance, it may often be an indication of a more serious condition such as sleep apnea. Other signs of sleep apnea may include: gasping, coughing, or choking during the night, waking up tired after full night's rest, problems with memory, and general irritability. Oral Appliance Therapy has proven to be a very viable and scientifically based treatment option for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a statement in the 2006 journal SLEEP that Oral Appliance Therapy was approved as the first line of treatment for those suffering from mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea and is proving to be effective for severe cases as well. The purpose of the oral appliance is to hold the jaw in a position that allows the airway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep. Oral appliances are similar to athletic mouth guards, but less bulky and completely non-invasive. For more information, contact Dr. Rod Willey at the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine. As a general dentist, with a Diplomate from the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines, Dr. Willey has limited his practice to the treatment of snoring, sleep apnea, and TMJ Disorders with oral appliance therapy. To contact them, call 309-243-8980 or visit IllinoisSleepDoc.com.

Are You at Risk?

Before you drive, consider whether you are:  Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)  Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt Driving long distances without proper rest breaks  Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep  Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)  Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40 percent)  Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work Drinking even small amounts of alcohol  Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road

Specific At-Risk Groups

 Young people especially males under age 26  S hift workers and people with long hours working the night shift increases their risk by nearly six times; rotating-shift workers and people working more than 60 hours a week  C ommercial drivers especially long-haul drivers at least 15 percent of all heavy truck crashes involve fatigue  P eople with undiagnosed or untreated disorders people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have been shown to have up to a seven times increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel  Business travelers who spend many hours driving or may be jet lagged

The Power of Hope

by Andrew Wommack
Five Class Presentation of the DVD Series
Lakeview Library June 4,17,25 and July 10, 23 6:30-8:00 pm
For Info or to Register Call Carol Prill 309-697-5292

Metamorphosis
a Samadhi Float Tank Location
Float Away Stress and Pain  Float Therapy Relieves Stress, Anxiety, and the Effects of Gravity on Painful Joints & Muscles Transform Anxiety into Tranquility

Alma Sander-Landis, LMT. 309-645-1087

www.almasanderlandis.massagetherapy.com

Gift Certificates Available

June 2013 Peoria Healthy Cells Magazine Page 29