Truck Drivers Are At Risk For Obstructive Sleep Apnea

August 21st, 2010 by admin

Trucking is perhaps one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Most people don’t understand why it is so dangerous. You see there are several drivers who die because of highway accidents. Even if you drive carefully, there is no assurance that you will not encounter a problem along the road. This is just one of many reasons why truck drivers need to have good health insurance to cover them while they are on the road. Health insurance for truckers is tough to get

There are various good health insurance policies that are intended for truck drivers. It is very important that you find a good health insurance agent if you want to get the best value for your premium dollar. Because there are many plans available, it is important that you do this to determine which plan is best for you and your needs.

Truck drivers are prone to health problems because of their way of life This is why it is very important that you have a good health insurance plan that will provide comprehensive coverage for you when you need it. Most good health insurance for drivers cover health benefit plans that encompass medical services such as ICU, lab procedures, surgical operations and others. You also need prescription help.

If you will get good health insurance plan, it is important that you consider some vital factors regarding the premiums as well as the benefits. While not all insurance policies are expensive, they also are not cheap! There is good health insurance for drivers which are affordable. Choose the health plan which you think you can afford and will give you the best benefits. There are many insurance plans to choose from so be careful in your selection.

Truck drivers with untreated sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, are a serious threat to themselves and others that are traveling our highway system. Truck driver weariness is to blame for roughly 100,000 vehicle accidents and 1,500 deaths each year and the NHTSA says that the expense of tired driving is roughly $11 billion every year. An untreated truck driver has a Situational Performance that is the equivalent of a driver with a Blood Alcohol Content of .06 to .08. As you can see, sleep apnea in the trucking industry is a problem.

It is very concerning that truck drivers with OSA often minimize and underreport their indicators such as snoring and daytime drowsiness for concern of losing their job. The trucking way of life is oftentimes nothing but limited physical activity, high fat diet and irregular schedules. This is what causes truck drivers to become a high risk. The truck driving way of life is not the cause of the disease but it contributes greatly to it.