There’s a common problem in the United States and around the world, sleep deprivation. There are several negative health and behavioral consequences to sleep deprivation and it comes with the most immediate risk of serious injury and death.
Drowsy driving happens when the driver of an automobile is too sleepy to stay awake at the wheel. They will have slower reaction times, a reduced amount of attention to the road, and their ability to make good driving decisions is decreased.
Research has shown that if you are awake for more than 24 hours and you’re driving, it is the same as having a blood alcohol content of .10. The legal limit for intoxication .08.
The AAA Foundation has found that more than 6000 fatal crashes are related to drowsy driving each year. It is estimated that drivers under the age of 25 are involved in at least 50% of all drowsy driving accidents.
It has been found that most young adults and teenagers have a higher risk of drowsy driving simply because they are often chronically sleep deprived. The combination of a teenager being sleepy and having limited skills and experience behind the wheel, they pose a danger to other drivers and pedestrians.
Why Sleep Is Important
Sleep is very important and should never be taken for granted. Many times, as teenagers you may feel invincible and you take risk that are really unnecessary. You should start learning while you are young the importance of getting a good nights rest and the effects of that rest on your body.
Sleep has many benefits to your body. While you are asleep your body heals and like a computer reboots itself. This rebooting process helps your body to function better while you are awake. It helps you think clearer and make better decisions.
If you wake up in the morning and you haven’t rested well, you should probably think twice about getting behind the wheel of your vehicle. It’s not just your life but the lives of others you may come into contact with if you haven’t had enough sleep.
If you feel like you haven’t been sleeping well or you know you’re not sleeping well, you need to talk with a family member about what you need to do. If you are waking up at night gasping for air and even choking, then you might have a condition called sleep apnea.
Many people think that sleep apnea only affects adults. The truth is sleep apnea affects children, teenagers and adults and should never be taken lightly.
It can cause you to have daytime sleepiness, mood swings, irritability is a well as lend itself to other physical problems.
Don’t let a bad night sleep ruin your day. Give us a call and we can help you discover whether or not you have sleep apnea or some other serious underlying condition that can affect your life in a negative way.