DWT: Driving While Tired.Driving with a sleep disorder Sleep disorder Any condition that interferes with sleep. At least 84 have been identified, according to the American Sleep Disorders Association. Mentioned in: Insomnia, Night Terrors may be more dangerous than driving while intoxicated driving while intoxicated n. see driving under the influence. . Researchers measured reaction times of two groups of people: 80 with blood alcohol levels at or above legal driving limits, and 113 sleep apnea sleep apnea, episodes of interrupted breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in which relaxation of muscles in the throat repeatedly close off the airway during sleep; the person wakes just enough to take a gasping breath. patients. People with sleep apnea did as poorly on a reaction test as people who were too drunk to drive a truck or bus in the state of California. In other tests, the sleep apnea patients did as poorly as people too drunk to drive in any state where the legal test of blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content (BAC) or blood alcohol concentration is the concentration of alcohol in blood. It is usually measured as mass per volume. For example, a BAC of 0.02% means 0.02 grams of alcohol per 100 grams of individual's blood, or 0. is 0.08 percent. The study underscores the danger of driving while sleepy, whether or not it's because of sleep apnea. (American Academy of Otolaryngology) |
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