Drivers and Shift Workers

Watch a video about the risks of driving with sleep apnea.

If you are a shift worker, night worker, or driver, you should be especially aware of the risks of sleep apnea.

If your sleep patterns change often, or if you sleep in the day and work at night, you are at higher risk for sleep apnea. People who work in shifts are more than twice as likely to get sleep apnea as 9-to-5 workers.

If you work shifts or nights, learn the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor.

Being sleepy on the job can be dangerous. People with untreated sleep apnea have a seven times more risk of traffic or work-related accidents because of daytime sleepiness.

Driving and sleep apnea

People with untreated sleep apnea are at higher risk of motor vehicle collisions. If you have sleep apnea, your risk of a car crash is seven times higher than normal. Collisions caused by sleepy drivers are often severe and cause serious injuries.

To protect yourself and others, get treatment for your sleep apnea.

It’s safe for you to drive again after one to three weeks of CPAP treatment. At that point, your risk of having a crash becomes the same as other drivers.