HealthDay.com
BOSTON — Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, shift work disorder and restless leg syndrome are common among firefighters, new research shows.
These conditions are linked with a higher risk for car accidents, a research team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggests. Firefighters with sleep disorders are also more likely to have chronic health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes. However, most firefighters with sleep disorders are not receiving the treatment they need, the study revealed.
“Our findings demonstrate the impact of common sleep disorders on firefighter health and safety, and their connection to the two leading causes of death among firefighters,” which are heart attacks and car crashes, explained Laura Barger, associate physiologist in Brigham and Women’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. “Unfortunately, more than 80 percent of firefighters who screened positive for a common sleep disorder were undiagnosed and untreated.”
Full story: Undiagnosed Sleep Problems May Be Common Among Firefighters