Page 20 - Safe Mobility for Life E-book

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common occurrence that causes
breathing to be briefly interrupted during sleep. Left
untreated, sleep apnea can seriously affect your ability to
drive safely in the following ways:

▶ Drowsiness can prevent you from reacting quickly to
traffic and road changes

▶ Problems concentrating and focusing your eyes

▶ Trouble learning and retaining information

Stroke

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is
interrupted resulting in brain cells dying, causing
difficulty with speaking, seeing, thinking clearly, or
controlling your body. It may cause temporary weakness
or paralysis on one side of the body. Depending on
the extent of damage, it may be possible to drive, but
you should first check with your doctor or health care
provider. A stroke can affect your driving in the following
ways:

▶ Trouble turning the steering wheel or applying the
brake

▶ Becoming easily frustrated or confused when driving

▶ Drifting across lane markings

▶ Becoming overwhelmed by confusing traffic
conditions

16 Florida’s Guide to Safe Mobility for Life