Feb 2023 Bioprojet launches Info Somnolence website

Heavy eyelids, yawning and stinging eyes are recognizable signs of a desire to sleep. Medically speaking, this need to sleep is called somnolence (sleepiness). In 2023, Bioprojet launched the Info Somnolence website, entirely dedicated to sleep disorders: sleep apnea, hypersomnia, parasomnia and insomnia…

Sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea: a public health problem

Sleepiness, when it occurs at the wheel, causes one third of fatal road accidents. This symptom, which is common in patients suffering from sleep apnea, continues to persist in 13% of them, even if a positive pressure treatment (CPAP) is used. However, this symptom is not always reported to the treating physician. The cause and associated risks are often underestimated and linked to various apprehensions such as the fear of losing one’s job. The reasons can be multiple, hence the importance of an adapted and customized treatment. The Info Somnolence site will help you to see things more clearly.

Know the difference between fatigue and sleepiness

Thanks to the information on the new Info Somnolence website, you can now distinguish, for example, two symptoms that should not be confused: fatigue and sleepiness. Dr. Marc Sapène, president of the Alliance Apnées du Sommeil explains: “Fatigue is the difficulty to maintain a performance, it is manifested by muscular pains, staring, stiffness of the neck. Sleepiness is the difficulty to stay awake, with a risk of falling asleep; it is due to a lack or poor quality of sleep. Its only natural treatment is to sleep, while fatigue will be corrected by rest.

Many serious accidents are related to sleepiness

A person suffering from sleepiness increases his or her risk of road accidents, work-related injuries, reduced performance and increased absenteeism. Dr. Marc Sapène explains: “People don’t realize the seriousness of sleepiness. People who work as crane operators, airplane pilots or security managers, for example, are not only putting themselves at risk, but also, by the nature of their profession, putting the lives of others at risk.

The riskiest situation remains driving. According to data from the Road Safety, sleepiness caused nearly one third of fatal road accidents. Moreover, for people suffering from sleep apnea, the risk of a traffic accident increases 5 times more than for the rest of the population.

The Info Somnolence website provides information on sleep disorders, sleep apnea and narcolepsy, as well as the risks associated with these disorders and the checkups and treatments available to deal with them.