There’s nothing that feels better than a good night’s sleep, and nothing that feels worse than not getting one. As it turns out, not only does chronic sleeplessness feel bad, it also makes you perform worse in many different areas of your life.
For example, if you aren’t getting the sleep that you should it may not be a good idea to get behind the wheel of a car, at least according to some interesting data on vehicular accidents. Here are a few good reasons why you ought to get some sleep before driving, along with information about why that’s important.
The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Nowadays, most people know better than to drive drunk, and are well aware of the impact that alcohol can have on their ability to handle a car. As it turns out, exhaustion can produce many similar effects. Studies have found that 24 hours of sleep deprivation can impair mental functions, reaction time, and decision making to the same extent as a BAC of 0.10% (well above the legal limit to drive).
In 2017 alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that sleep-deprived drivers were responsible for at least 91,000 car crashes. This is a low-ball estimate, as other factors can sometimes make it difficult to pinpoint sleepiness as the sole cause.
If you’re ever in a situation where you don’t know if you feel awake enough to drive, it’s a good idea to exercise caution. Hit the hay before you hit the road.
Dealing With Chronic Sleeplessness
And if you’re one of the many people who suffers from chronic sleeplessness or fatigue when you wake up, it may be a good idea to talk to evaluate why that could be. For example, using technology just before bedtime may potentially impair your ability to sleep well, as the blue light emitted by most screens tends to trick the brain into thinking it’s daytime. For that reason, most professionals recommend against bringing your phone or tablet to bed with you.
If you wake up tired every morning, you might also want to talk to a sleep doctor or dentist about a screening for sleep apnea. This condition can seriously impair your ability to get a decent night’s sleep, so dealing with it will improve not only your health and mood, but your safety behind the wheel as well.
About Our Practice
At Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions, we see plenty of restless patients come into our office, which means that we’re well aware of what chronic sleeplessness can do to people. That’s why we work incredibly hard each day to listen to our patients’ concerns, understand them, and to offer what they need to finally get the good night’s sleep everyone deserves.
If you have any questions about sleep apnea, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (303) 377-5337.