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2010-03-10 12:31:14
VIEWPOINT
Professor Tony Leeds
Specialist in obesity management, Central Middlesex Hospital
A big increase in obesity threatens to cause health problems for millions of
people across the world.
In this week's Scrubbing Up, obesity expert Professor Tony Leeds warns that our
weight problems could also put the lives of other people at risk.
Britain is gripped by a much-publicised epidemic of obesity - one in four of us
is clinically obese.
Many obese people face an increased risk of illnesses such as heart disease,
diabetes and cancer. On average, their lives will be shortened by nine years.
But some might be unwittingly putting the lives of others at risk too.
These additional fatalities are occurring not in Britain's cardiac units, but
on the country's roads, due to people falling asleep at the wheel of cars and
lorries.
But why is this - and how many of us are unwittingly potential killers?
It is because Britain has yet to wake up to the dangers of obstructive sleep
apnoea (OSA).
Sleep deprivation
OSA may be more common than is realised, especially in people with type 2
diabetes, where one in four might be affected.
It causes snoring, interrupted by pauses in breathing, and choking and gasping
during sleep. This makes sleep disturbed and restless, and can leave people
tired, irritable, forgetful and depressed. It also increases the risk that they
will fall asleep at work - or while driving.
OSA can be caused by structural abnormalities of the upper airway but obesity
is a big risk factor.
Extra fat next to the airway can increase pressure on the muscles which support
the airway, raising the risk that it will narrow and become obstructed.
The lifestyle of many lorry drivers means that many are significantly
overweight. They lead a sedentary lifestyle, keep unsocial hours and might have
unhealthy diets
A recent British Medical Journal study showed that losing weight by following a
very low calorie diet led to significant improvements in symptoms in just seven
weeks for 26 out of 30 obese men with moderate or severe OSA. A longer-term US
study produced similar findings.
But the risks of living with the condition were graphically illustrated by
another study, which calculated that people with severe sleep apnoea were
between six and 15 times more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Lorry drivers seem to be particularly at risk. The typical lifestyle means many
are significantly overweight - they lead a sedentary lifestyle, keep unsocial
hours and might have unhealthy diets.
One study found only 11% had a "healthy" body mass index - and half were above
the obesity threshold.
Perhaps we should call for a campaign to alert all drivers to the importance
of adequate sleep
Britain's leading sleep experts believe that nearly one in six lorry drivers
could have sleep apnoea - that's nearly 80,000.
But difficulties when driving may be under-reported - perhaps for fear of
losing their licence and livelihood.
In a period of just four months, at least four cases came before UK courts of
drivers of large goods vehicles accused of causing death by dangerous driving.
All four drivers were suffering from sleep apnoea - diagnosed only after these
terrible accidents.
In one incident it was revealed that a lorry driver involved in a fatal crash
had seen his doctor just five months before, complaining of tiredness - but
sleep apnoea was not diagnosed.
BODY MASS INDEX
Normal: 18.5 - 24.9
At the inquest, the coroner called for a toughening of the licensing regimen
for commercial drivers, including regular medical screening.
He also called for fast-track medical assessment of those involved in road
traffic collisions - but stressed that a diagnosis of sleep apnoea was unlikely
to force them off the roads.
Survey data and random inquiry suggest that falling asleep (even momentarily)
while driving may be more common than we realise. Our lifestyles, TV and
computer use nibble away at the hours of sleeping.
Perhaps we should call for a campaign to alert all drivers to the importance of
adequate sleep, to the effect that being obese can have on sleep quality, and
to the need for an immediate visit to the GP if sleep apnoea is suspected.
Have you had any of the experiences described in the article above? How do you
think we can make our roads safer?
Provocative thoughts from experts in the worlds of health and medicine
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8549619.stm
Published: 2010/03/10 05:18:38 GMT