One of the scariest things about undiagnosed, untreated sleep apnea is when these overly tired people get behind the wheel.
  Especially when they are controlling a several-ton semi-truck.
  A California company, Aviisha Medical Institute, LLC, is recognizing that in May — which is Better Sleep Month — by offering a discount to truckers who purchase its home sleep test.
  The home test collects data during sleep after which the device is returned to the company. Aviisha follows up with a diagnosis and a treatment recommendation.
  It is touted as a cheaper approach than going the route of the traditional lab test. Obviously, check with your insurance before making a commitment.
  I don’t know enough about the home test to give a ringing endorsement but I like to present all options.
  The full text of the press release, which includes some sobering statistics, is below:

Van Nuys, Calif. — Aviisha Medical Institute, LLC, an industry leader in portable home diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, will be taking $100 off the cost of its home sleep test for commercial drivers throughout May in honor of Better Sleep Month.
Aviisha hopes that making the test more accessible will encourage drivers to get tested and treated, promoting better health, better safety, and better sleep, as well as help prevent the many diseases associated with untreated sleep apnea. Commercial drivers anywhere in the U.S. will be able to get tested in the comfort of their home.
Studies have shown that drivers with untreated sleep apnea are at a 7-fold increased risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Researchers believe that drowsy driving, one consequence of untreated sleep apnea, is a factor in more than 100,000 crashes per year.
Moreover, it is estimated that 2.4-3.9 million licensed commercial drivers have sleep apnea.
“One of the major concerns we have is that most people with sleep apnea don’t know they have it,” said Dr. Avi Ishaaya, MD, Aviisha’s cofounder and CEO. Studies estimate that 85 percent of sleep apnea sufferers don’t know they have the condition. “A strong predictor of sleep apnea is being overweight or obese, but research shows that most people who are overweight or obese don’t know it either.”
A recent poll discovered that 70 percent of obese individuals and 39 percent of morbidly obese individuals consider themselves simply “overweight.” Sleep apnea has been strongly linked with being overweight or obese; as many as 70 percent of sleep apnea sufferers are obese.
Treating sleep apnea can improve driver alertness, leading to fewer car accidents. It also can help prevent the occurrence of sleep apnea’s long list of associated diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart failure, heart attacks, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, depression, and anxiety.
“The first step is getting assessed and tested, and we’ve tried to make it as simple and convenient as possible through the DriveSafe program,” said Dr. Avi.
Aviisha offers the complete package a driver needs to address sleep apnea and get certified, including screening, evaluation, home testing, treatment, and compliance management. The home sleep test and treatment device are covered by most major insurance companies.
To order the home sleep test, call 877-4AVIISHA or visit sleep.aviisha.com and use the promo code DriveSafe.

About Aviisha
Aviisha, a national leader in home sleep care, works with physicians and patients around the country to provide comprehensive, convenient, affordable and expedient services to address the emerging sleep apnea epidemic. Aviisha’s services include screening, home sleep testing, treatment, compliance management, and education. Additionally, Aviisha operates fully accredited sleep labs in Southern California and the MD Home Sleep Program which enables both sleep and non-sleep physicians to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. For more information visit sleep.aviisha.com or call 877-4AVIISHA.