How Sleep Apnea Affects Drivers, Operators, and Train Conductors

While sleep apnea can be treated with proper diagnosis, it’s actually possible to prevent it from happening. Usually, it all boils down to one’s own lifestyle.

• Lose weight: As mentioned earlier, overweight people are more prone to sleep apnea, and it’s due to the extra tissue located on the back of their throat which could block airflow into the lungs while sleeping. With enough exercise and even just a small amount of weight loss, it is possible to open up the throat and prevent the symptoms of sleep apnea from occurring.
• Avoid smoking: Smoking increases the risk of sleep apnea by increasing fluid retention in the throat and upper airway. Quitting or simply avoiding will significantly help.
• Exercise on a regular basis: Regular exercise can have a significant effect on the duration and quality of an individual’s sleep. Yoga can help strengthen the muscles in the airways while resistance training will help reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.