There’s no denying we owe a debt of gratitude to our essential workers, especially the truck drivers who work round the clock to bring us much-needed supplies like food, PPE, and of course toilet paper. But these hard workers could be at a dangerous risk, especially if they have undiagnosed sleep apnea.A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that a whopping 49 percent of truck drivers could be at risk for undiagnosed sleep apnea, and those numbers could be a major danger for drivers and those who use our roads.Sleep apnea is categorized as the stopping and restarting of breathing during sleep, due to an obstructed airway. This can cause repeated waking and low blood oxygen levels, which in turn cause sleep deprivation, lethargy, and depression during the day. Combined with long drives and shifts that can sometimes exceed 12 hours, and you’ve got an accident waiting to happen.In fact, the Virginia Tech study found that those drivers who did have undiagnosed sleep apnea were at higher risk for a road accident, work accident, or another type of accident during the day.Sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea, is especially prevalent in truck drivers because many drivers do not get adequate exercise, nor do they have access to many healthy meals on the road. This can cause overweight or obesity, which can make sleep apnea worse.The good news is that there are options for truck drivers and those with sleep apnea, including but not limited to CPAP therapy and sleep orthotics, such as those available from Dr. Peterson’s office.If you notice any symptoms in yourself or your partner, such as poor sleep, snoring, gasping for air, daytime lethargy, depression, or if you already have diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, you could be at risk for sleep apnea.If you are interested in learning more about your options for a comfortable sleep orthotic that positions your airway open as you sleep, Dr. Peterson and his team can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about what is available to get you the results you want.