Especially the following groups belong to the risk group for momentary nodding off:
- Commuters and truck drivers: Mostly, their route is long, boring and monotone. Due to the high deadline pressure trucker drivers are under they often don’t take the day-night-rhythm and necessary breaks into account.
- People with long and unfavorable working hours: This especially applies for shift workers. Here, the alternating working hours often don’t go along with the natural day-night-rhythm.
- Young adults: Partying all night increases the risk for momentary nodding off in the morning. Another source for lack of sleep are social networks, like some studies show.
- Holidaymakers: Long car trips often lead to tiredness. Since people want to arrive as fast as possible at their destination they often don’t take breaks. And – to avoid traffic jams, the departure time is in the very early morning hours.
- People with diseases: Certain diseases like sleep disturbances, sleep apnoea or narcolepsy lead to tiredness.
Typical signs
The following signs are typical before momentary nodding off:
- frequent yawning
- tiredness
- shivering
- head ache
- dry mouth
- wandering thoughts
- burning eyes, eye-rubbing
- blurred vision
- frequent winking
- heavy lids
- hallucinations, optical illusions
- restriction of visual field, tunnel vision
- can’t keep eyes open
- frequent gear changing, more steering movements, shift into wrong gears
- difficult to keep the car in its lane
- irregular speed
- sudden starting up
In case you notice these signs take a break quickest possible, move around and take some deep breaths – in fresh air, if possible. In part 3, you will find further effective hints.
Receive further information in part 3.
Receive further information at no charge in the sleep-healthy-guidebook “sleep yourself young, fit and successful”.
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