Transportation Workers Are Sleepy On the Job, Says New Study

In March, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) released its annual Sleep in America® poll, titled "Transportation Workers' Sleep." The NSF's 2012 survey examined the sleep habits and work performance of transportation workers, including pilots, train operators, and truck, bus, taxi and limousine drivers.

The online survey was conducted for the National Sleep Foundation by WB&A Market Research, using a sample of 1,087 adults over age 25. Those surveyed included 202 pilots, 203 truck drivers, 180 rail transportation workers, and 210 bus, taxi and limo drivers, as well as a control group of 292 non-transportation workers.

The transportation workers were asked about the duration and quality of their sleep, specifically on work nights, and how it affects their work performance. Questions included how much sleep they get, compared with how much they feel they need to operate their vehicles safely, if they feel sleepy at work, and if sleepiness on the job has ever contributed to unsafe conditions for themselves and their passengers. The survey also asked if their current work schedules allow enough time for sleep and recovery.

Results of the Study

The results of the poll are some cause for alarm, and reinforce the growing problem of sleep disorders and the potential risks they pose, such as commuter car accidents and errors by public transportation drivers responsible for many people. Some of the results of the survey are:

About one-fourth of the train operators and pilots polled said that sleepiness has affected their job performance at least once a week.One in five pilots polled - about 20 percent - said they have made a "serious error" as a result of on-the-job sleepiness.One in five pilots and one in six train operators admit to a "near miss" due to on-the-job sleepiness.Pilots and train operators are more likely than non-transportation workers to have been involved in a sleep-related car accident while commuting.Among all workers surveyed, train operators and pilots report the most work day sleep dissatisfaction.Almost two-thirds of train operators and one-half of pilots say they rarely or never get a good night's sleep on work nights.About one-third of bus, taxi, and limo drivers said they rarely or never get a good night's sleep on work nights.

The Bottom Line

Not surprisingly, sleepy transportation workers about three times more likely to report job performance problems, and report an average of 45 minutes less sleep per night than their non-sleepy peers. The takeaway of the study is that transportation companies, and the industry as a whole, needs to do more to ensure their workers are getting enough sleep, through improved schedules and education about good sleep and lifestyle habits.

To read the full report, see "Sleepy Pilots, Train Operators and Drivers" on the National Sleep Foundation website.

If you are experiencing sleep problems on a regular basis that are affecting your health and/or daytime performance, see a qualified sleep doctor to get diagnosed and treated properly. It could save your life or the life of someone else.

David Volpi, M.D., P.C., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified otolaryngology surgeon with Ear, Nose and Throat practices, Otolaryngology Associates, on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side and is a staff member of the best teaching hospitals New York City. David Volpi, M.D. realized that there is a lack of information on the part of the public about the potential severity of snoring. With the need for accurate information, diagnosis and treatment so necessary, he founded Eos Sleep, formerly Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center to be a place where snoring patients can go for total, expert treatment -- and he created this site to be a thorough information resource for the education of snoring sufferers throughout the world.

For more information, visit http://www.eossleep.com/.

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New Study: Those Who Exercise Sleep Better and Feel More Rested

A new study out of Oregon State University suggests that regular physical exercise may encourage better sleep and less daytime fatigue. The OSU researchers looked at statistics from a U.S. health survey conducted from 2005 to 2006. For the survey, more than 2,600 men and women between the ages of 18 and 85 had their activity levels measured, and answered questions about sleep.

The exercise participants all wore accelerometers to measure their physical activity for one week. The Oregon researchers then determined how many participants met or exceeded national exercise guidelines by getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise, or a combination of both moderate and vigorous exercise.

The Oregon researchers looked only at the amount of exercise, and did not consider other lifestyle factors, such as age, weight, health condition or smoking history.

Results Are In: Active Participants Felt Less Tired

The results of the study were published in the December 2011 issue of the Mental Health and Physical Activity journal. The Oregon researchers discovered that, among participants who met the national exercise guidelines, 65 percent were less likely to report feeling sleepy during the day, 68 percent were less likely to report sometimes having leg cramps, and 45 percent were less likely to report trouble concentrating when tired.

Theories among Sleep and Exercise Researchers

While the results of the study do not confirm 100 percent that exercise directly leads to better sleep, the findings are consistent with previous studies, and have inspired discussion and theories among sleep and exercise researchers.

Some researchers think that exercise helps improve sleep by helping to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Others believe that when you burn calories through exercise, your body needs rest to recover, so you sleep better. Others have suggested that exercise helps moderate body weight, which helps people to sleep better. Whatever the reason, people are not getting enough sleep, and need help getting more.

Consider these statistics from the National Sleep Foundation's 2011 Sleep in America® poll:

43 percent of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 say they rarely or never get a good night's sleep on weeknights.
60 percent experience a sleep problem every night or almost every night, such as snoring, waking in the night, waking up too early or not feeling rested when they get up in the morning.
63 percent of Americans say they are not meeting their sleep needs during the week. Most said they need about seven and a half hours of sleep, but are actually getting just under seven hours of sleep on average weeknights.
About 15 percent of adults between the ages of 19 and 64, and 7 percent of people ages 13 to 18 say they sleep less than six hours on weeknights.

A consistent lack of quality sleep can lead to many physical problems, including the inability to concentrate, headaches and memory loss. Poor sleep can also compromise the nervous and immune systems, and has been linked to higher blood sugar levels, clinical depression, fibromyalgia in women and other disorders.

David Volpi, M.D., P.C., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified otolaryngology surgeon with Ear, Nose and Throat practices, Otolaryngology Associates, on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side and is a staff member of the best teaching hospitals New York City. Realizing that there is a lack of information on the part of the public about the potential severity of snoring, he founded The Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center to be a place where snoring patients can go for expert information, diagnosis and treatment. As a recognized authority throughout the country for his work in snoring disorders, he is also the author of the definitive guide book on the diagnosis and treatment of snoring: Wake Up! You're Snoring...

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American College of Surgeons, the Medical Society of the State of New York, the New York County Medical Society, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the American Rhinologic Society.

Original article