Sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterised by pauses in breathing during sleep, which can cause the body to become oxygen-deprived and cause significant disruption to an individual’s work life. Sleep apnoea is often undiagnosed or untreated, leading to poor job performance, impaired concentration, increased risk of injury and illness, higher absenteeism rates, and decreased productivity.
Left untreated for a long period of time, sleep apnoea can have a lasting effect on an individual’s physical and mental health. Symptoms of sleep apnoea include snoring, waking up gasping for air while sleeping, excessive daytime fatigue or sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and depression. These symptoms can lead to decreased alertness and cognitive skills at work, resulting in reduced productivity and safety concerns.
Additionally, untreated sleep apnoea has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes as well as workplace accidents due to lack of concentration or exhaustion. This means that companies must take action to ensure their employees are properly diagnosed and treated for any signs or symptoms of sleep apnoea in order to reduce risks associated with the disorder.
Fortunately, there are treatments available for those suffering from sleep apnoea which can help greatly improve quality of life. Common treatments include lifestyle changes such as weight loss, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption; medical devices such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, oral appliances and nasal dilators; and surgery. Making sure that employees are properly diagnosed and treated for sleep apnoea is essential in order to protect their health, job performance, quality of life, and the success of the business.
Therefore, it is important for businesses to be aware of how sleep apnoea can affect their employees’ work lives and take steps to ensure that any affected workers receive the proper diagnosis and treatment necessary. By taking action quickly, businesses can help reduce absenteeism rates, improve employee safety and increase overall productivity. Through early intervention employers can ultimately benefit from healthier, happier and more productive employees.