Have you ever experienced this before? You’re driving down a long road or taking a road trip and you start to feel sleepy all of a sudden. Well, that can be scary to think about and you should see a sleep doctor Damascus MD for it. Here is everything you need to know about why you fall asleep while driving.

Falling Asleep While Driving

Most people say that driving under the influence is dangerous, but driving while being on the brink of sleep can be even more dangerous. Why? Because first of all, you’re not even under the influence of any substance. It’s only sleep that is causing you to get drowsy.

This condition is known as drowsy driving. It’s something that you don’t want to experience or it will be the last thing you ever do. Injuries are serious, car accidents are the norm and death is inevitable. So, you want to make sure that you’re not sleepy when you’re driving.

Well, these things really aren’t in your control and sometimes, even if you don’t want to, you can find yourself feeling very drowsy and just want to get some shut eye while you’re driving.

This is something really bad, because it can shut down your brain immediately and that is not something you want to do. This is why drowsy driving is a major problem among drivers, who especially travel late into the night and have a sleep schedule that is out of whack. This is going to be more common than ever.

Causes Of Falling Asleep While Driving

Now that you know what drowsy driving is, you want to know why it is caused in the first place. Well, there are a couple of reasons behind it, and here are some of them:

Driving At Night

First of all, if you’re traveling at night and the roads are quiet, then this can lead to drowsy driving. How? Well, when it is nighttime, your brain will register the fact that it is dark and there aren’t a lot of people or obstructions out, so it can cause you to fall asleep while being behind the wheel.

Car Vibrations

Car vibrations can also put you to sleep. While they can be annoying at times, there are also instances when the brain thinks of these vibrations as a soothing lullaby for your body. It churns the body into relaxation mode and your brain shuts down completely, without even taking into consideration the fact that you’re driving.

Even if it’s daytime or night, you will feel very drowsy and relaxed and you will have the deepest urge to just close your eyes for a second, however, that second can turn into longer and you can ultimately fall asleep.

Simple, Long Roads

Sometimes, simple and long roads with no calculating or hard twists and turns can make the driver feel very relaxed and under control. The thing is, there needs to be some sort of thrill or anxiety that is keeping you awake on the road, as weird as it sounds.

Even though you might prefer a straight and no-nonsense road, you won’t like it when you get bored and then slowly start to fall asleep. It is going to lead to a lot of problems and you’ll be left with a foggy and disoriented brain that will want to sleep.

Sleep Disorders

If someone is suffering from sleep disorders like insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy, they will feel tired and might fall asleep while driving.

Symptoms Of Driving And Falling Asleep

You can’t see the symptoms of drowsy driving, but here are some of the signs that you can look out for, especially if you are just about to go behind the wheel. This means you should let somebody else drive and get help from a sleep specialist Bethesda.

No Or Less Sleep The Day Before

You haven’t had a good night’s rest the day before. You will feel tired and will be unable to concentrate. So, you want to catch yourself in this situation, because getting behind the wheel, especially for a long ride is not going to be the best of plans. Small drives are fine but you don’t want to do anything too crazy like a cross-country ride.

Exhaustion

You will feel exhausted and your mind won’t be able to focus on things. When you’re exhausted, your entire body can feel it. From your brain and all the way down to your legs, you can feel the fatigue creeping up on you.

This is also a sign that you want to look out for when you’re about to drive. If you’re tired, you should take a nap instead of driving.

Driving At Different Hours Of The Day

Driving at different hours of the day can lead to drowsy driving. You might be more comfortable driving in the day, so when you take a nighttime road trip and you are sacrificing your sleep, then your biological clock or circadian rhythm can go haywire and that is not something that you want to do.

This is why it is always a good idea to cover long distances in the car at hours that you’re comfortable with.

Brain Fog

You will suffer from brain fog. Things will register late, you will experience loss of focus and you just can’t seem to concentrate on anything. This is dangerous and you don’t want to get behind the wheel in such a state.

Treatment And Prevention For Driving While Sleeping

Now that you know the causes and symptoms of falling asleep while driving, here are some of the treatment or managing methods that you can use to avoid drowsy driving.

See A Doctor Right Away

If you’re fine most of the time and just fall asleep while driving, then this is an issue that you need to discuss with your doctor. They will be able to tell you why it happens and what you can do to drive safely without falling asleep.

Keep Yourself Distracted

When you’re taking long road trips, make sure that you’re doing something. If you have company with you then that is even better. You want to blast music, eat something sweet to keep you alert, and just make it through this trip. This is going to keep your brain stimulated and you won’t fall asleep anytime soon.

You Want To Have A Driving Partner

Covering long distances in cars is not going to be easy on you, especially if you suffer from a disorder that wills you to sleep behind the wheel. It’s always better to have a driving partner with you. They can take over and you guys can take turns when one is feeling sleepy.

Drink Caffeine

You want to drink lots of caffeine to keep your brain awake. This is the only time when you can allow yourself to chug down as much coffee as you want if you’re driving late into the night because you need that boost of stimulation to keep your brain alert and ready for the drive.

So, make sure to stop regularly to get your coffee fix and you’ll be able to get through the trip in no time at all, that too without falling asleep when you’re supposed to be driving, which is not ideal.

Conclusion

Falling asleep while driving can mess with you and the traffic around you. It’s not something that can be fixed overnight, but you should not ignore it and visit a sleep center Frederick as soon as you can for diagnosis and treatment.