Active Healthcare Publishes Timely Podcasts on Drowsy Driving

RALEIGH, NC, December 17, 2010 (Press-News.org) Active Healthcare, an award-winning industry leader in sleep apnea treatment, is helping Triangle residents avoid life-threatening accidents during the busy holiday travel season by publishing two informative podcasts addressing the dangers of drowsy driving.

Both podcasts, available for download on ActiveHealthcare.com/blog, empower listeners with information on how to recognize and prevent this all-too-common and often deadly condition affecting men and women of all ages.

"According to the National Sleep Foundation, 1.9 million drivers have fatigue-related car crashes or near misses each year," said Lisa Feierstein, RN, BSN, MBA, president of Active Healthcare, adding, "Drowsy driving is more common than we'd like to think."

Feierstein, a Registered Nurse for over 30 years, hosts both podcasts which examine the causes and signs of sleep deprivation and how this condition leads to drowsy driving, affecting 54% of drivers each year.

"Sleep deprivation affects driving in a similar way that alcohol affects a driver, except that a sleeping driver is unable to take any action to try and avoid a crash," she said.

Giving up sleep due to increased work and personal demands during the holiday season, individuals put themselves at greater risk, especially when traveling on the roads during sleeping hours -- early morning or late at night -- to avoid traffic, Feierstein explained.

Some of the expertise Feierstein shares in the podcasts includes the health effects of sleep disorders, including high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and even death. Individuals recognizing the warning signs of drowsy driving that she outlines in the podcasts can eventually be tested for sleep disorders, which may be caused by a condition called obstructive sleep apnea.

This condition is marked by episodes where breathing stops during sleep which can lead to dangerous long-term side effects such as increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and an increased chance of death. Other health problems include daytime sleepiness, concentration and memory problems, headaches, irritability and even depression.

Through its all-inclusive IntegraSleep sleep management program, Active Healthcare works hand-in-hand with healthcare providers to diagnose and treat patient's obstructive sleep apnea. The company is celebrating its 20 years of service to tens of thousands of patients via its six customer service centers throughout the Triangle and Johnston County and three IntegraSleep diagnostic sleep centers.

For more information, visit ActiveHealthcare.com/blog.

About Active Healthcare
Active Healthcare is an award-winning industry leader in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, helping North Carolinians breathe easier for over 20 years. Our state-of-the-art IntegraSleep centers in Raleigh, Clayton, and Smithfield provide all-inclusive sleep management programs to diagnose and treat this disruptive, dangerous condition. With a 98% customer satisfaction rate, Active Healthcare is passionately dedicated to patient care and quality of life through our six customer service centers throughout the Triangle and Johnston County. For more information, visit ActiveHealthcare.com.