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The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

This scenario may seem all too familiar, driving back from work, coming home from long weekend at the beach, and feeling tired but pushing through another 2 hours when you’ve already been driving for 6. Most of us drivers have been there, but many people do not realize the dangers of drowsy driving. Driving drowsy increases the likelihood that you will be involved in an accident, and the chances that you could be seriously injured or killed while driving.

Scientists compare driving tired to driving drunk, because, like alcohol, excessive sleepiness slows down our reaction times, decreases overall awareness and impairs judgment. Despite the dangers, an alarming 41 % of drivers admitted to having fallen asleep while driving, according to study released by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Most of us know not to drive drunk or let a friend or a family member get behind the wheel while intoxicated, many of us don’t seem to act as responsibly when it comes to drowsy driving. Tiredness can be hard to recognize, even for the person driving, so here are some signs to look out for (from the National Sleep Foundation):

  • Turning up the radio or rolling down the window to stay awake
  • Impaired reaction time and judgment
  • Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation
  • Trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or your head up
  • Daydreaming and wandering thoughts
  • Yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly
  • Drifting from your lane, tailgating and missing signs or exits
  • Felling restless, irritable or aggressive

There are a number of ideas being recommended to avoid falling asleep behind the wheel: drinking coffee , listening to the radio, pinching yourself are all quick fixes that are only short term, the fact is that the only remedy for avoiding drowsy driving accident is getting adequate amount of sleep.

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Important:
The Sleep Blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Instead, this website provides general information for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have questions or concerns regarding any medical condition or treatment.

The Top 5 Sleep-Related Myths

We spend about one-third of our lives sleeping, and most of us know very little about how sleep affects our bodies. Here are five of the most commonly repeated myths related to sleep.

Myth #1          You can make up for lost sleep.

Fact: If you think staying in bed on the weekends is going to make up for a week worth of sleep, think again.  A new study shows that going long periods without sleep can result in a kind of “sleep debt” that can’t be simply undone. In fact, too much snoozing can disrupt your circadian rhythm. So you should try to provide your body with a consistent number of hours of sleep each night.

Myth #2          A good work out at night will make it easier to fall asleep.

Fact:  Exercising regularly helps your body to fall sleep, but only if it is done at least 3 hours prior to bedtime. A work out elevates your body’s temperature which makes falling asleep difficult.

 Myth #3         My brain needs sleep to rest.

Fact:  During sleep, the rest of your body rests while your brain constantly controls all of your body’s functions, repairs cells and memorizes new information.

Myth #4          Everyone needs about 8 hours of sleep.

Fact:  The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person and depends on other factors, such as the individual’s lifestyle. The better the quality of sleep, the less time it takes for our bodies to renew itself. Stress, poor diet, heavy alcohol consumption and inadequate sleeping conditions make it harder for us to part with the pillow and make us feel tired even after many hours of rest.

Myth#5           People are divided into “night owls” and “early birds”

Fact:  It is commonly believed that whether we like to get out of bed early in the morning or become more energetic during the night, genetics are to blame. The truth is that it all depends on your lifestyle and habits acquired over many years. This means that with a little will power the “night owls” can become “early birds.”

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Important:
The Sleep Blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Instead, this website provides general information for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have questions or concerns regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Sleep Cycle – Turn Your iPhone Into a Sleep-tracking Device.

If you’re like me, waking up in the morning can be challenging. Hearing my loud alarm go off in the AM sometimes scares me to death and other times I can’t hear it at all. So how can this problem be solved? There’s an app for that!

Sleep Cycle is a Swiss-made iPhone app that offers a new approach to the way we wake up. During the night, we drift back and forth between light and deep sleep cycles; the key to feeling rested and relaxed is to wake up during the light sleep phase. The Sleep Cycle App claims to be able to help you do just that.

So, how does it work?

Placed under your pillow, Sleep Cycle uses a sensor called accelerometer that lets your mobile device track your movements throughout the night. Since your movement during sleep varies between the different stages of sleep, Sleep Cycle is able to track what stage of sleep you are in. As you approach the light sleep phase it will gently wake you up. It even lets you use your own mp3 music as a wake up tune. Just remember to charge your phone during the night as the app is constantly working and may drain your battery.

Do you use Sleep Cycle already – tell us how well it works for you.

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Important:
The Sleep Blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Instead, this website provides general information for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have questions or concerns regarding any medical condition or treatment.