Sleep studies keep truckers, motorists safe

July 29, 2009, WILKES-BARRE – Every year, the U.S. Department of Transportation releases disturbing statistics illustrating the consequences of driving while drowsy or sleep-deprived. In the United States, 13,000 fatalities and 70,000 injuries were directly caused by drowsy driving.

Alexander Villareal, M.D., sleep expert at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, a campus of Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, notes that many truck drivers, bus drivers, and railroad workers suffer from sleep disturbances.

“Disturbances may range from sleep apnea to daytime drowsiness from an inconsistent sleep schedule and insufficient sleep time,” said Dr. Villareal.

Federal regulations mandate the time a truck driver can be on the road and the amount of time he or she must rest before returning to the road. And many truck drivers are required to complete a sleep study to rule out and/or treat sleep related disturbances following an accident.

The United States is in the process of requiring that all truck drivers undergo mandatory testing for sleep disorders.

“Taking a proactive approach to potential sleep problems ensures the safety of the driver and other motorists,” said Dr. Villareal.

Sleep studies are painless and generally require the patient to spend only one sleep cycle at a testing facility. In addition, many sleep disturbances can be treated with sleep maintenance and drug therapy.

To learn more about sleep studies and the Sleep Disorders Center at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, please call 808-3248.

About Geisinger Health System.
Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, PA) is one of the nation’s largest integrated health services organizations.  Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of two medical center campuses, two hospitals, a 740-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Henry Hood Center for Health Research—dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.