We all enjoy our sleep. Some of us might get more than 8 hours of sleep and others might get less than 6 hours of sleep. While it might seem like this is just something we do and have to deal with day in and day out, there is more to it. Sleep loss and sleep apnea affect an individual’s performance, safety and quality of life. If you suffer from sleep apnea, there is a financial burden to keep in mind.
Sleep apnea is costly
It has been shown that almost 20% of all serious car crash injuries in the general population are associated with driver sleepiness. And that is independent of alcohol impact. Additionally, sleep loss and sleep disorders have a significant economic impact.
When we take a look at the high estimated costs to society if sleep apnea is left untreated, it is far more costly than what would be incurred by delivering adequate treatments. Each year, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on direct medical costs associated with doctor visits, hospital services, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.
If you compare that to healthy individuals, those who suffer from sleep loss and sleep disorders are less productive. These individuals also experience an increased health care utilization and an increased likelihood of accidents.
That is why it is important to provide sleep apnea services for your patients–so they can get a better night’s rest and lead a healthier life.
