New Study Links Obesity to Dangerous Sleep Apnea in Truck Drivers - Learn the Symptoms and Treatment Options at www.IHateCPAP.com

    GURNEE, IL, March 27, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A new Cambridge Health Alliance study has confirmed previous findings that obesity-driven testing strategies identify commercial truck drivers with a high likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and suggests that mandating OSA screenings could reduce the risk of truck crashes. Truck crashes are a significant public health hazard causing thousands of deaths and injuries each year, with driver fatigue and sleepiness being major causes.

"Obstructive sleep apnea is overdue for public attention; it is the second leading cause of daytime fatigue, after insomnia," explains Chicago Sleep Medicine Expert and www.IHateCPAP.com founder Dr. Ira Shapira. "Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects 20 million people and is a major cause of stroke, heart disease, and sleep-related car accidents."

Most people with sleep apnea are aware that they snore and feel overtired or fatigued but are unaware of potentially serious medical problems which may exist. It increases the risk of a vehicular accident by two- to seven-fold, and is common among truck drivers.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects more than 20 million Americans and can lead to hypertension, heart attack, stroke, depression, muscle pain, fibromyalgia, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness. According to the Cambridge Health Alliance approximately 2.4 - 3.9 million licensed commercial drivers in the U.S. are expected to have OSA.

While CPAP is considered the "gold standard" in sleep apnea treatment, compliance at less than 50%, explains Dr. Shapira. It's important that sleep apnea sufferers who are not using their prescribed CPAP machine or can't tolerate it discuss oral appliance therapy with their doctor.

To educate the public about dental sleep medicine and alternatives treatment procedures, Dr. Shapira started the online sleep medicine resource www.IHateCPAP.com to promote sleep medicine and emotionally connects with patients who have abandoned CPAP treatment due to negative experiences. Dr. Shapira points out that the online site and marketing program does not 'hate' CPAP, however many patients do which is why the site and program's name attracts thousands of patients and family members in search of a CPAP alternatives that can improve their sleep, health and prolong their lives.

If you have sleep apnea or disruptive snoring and do not tolerate CPAP, I HATE CPAP wants to help you find answers go to www.IHateCPAP.com. If you want to discuss a dental alternative to CPAP with an experienced dental sleep medicine professional in your area, visit the "Find a Doctor" section of www.IHateCPAP.com.

If you want to discuss a dental alternative to CPAP with an experienced dental sleep medicine professional in your area, visit the "Find a Doctor" section of www.IHateCPAP.com.

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