A new study suggest that sleep disorders affect work of police officers
According to a new study, many police officers might be better at work if they had more and healthier sleep.
Scientists studied 4957 officers for sleeping disorders and found out that 40% suffering from an obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia. 82% of the participants were men, 85% were white and 79% were overweight or obese.
They compared these police officers with those who have no sleeping disorders. As a result, 51% of police officers with sleeping disorders are at a great risk to fall asleep while driving, 63% are more likely to violate safety protocols, 43% have a great risk to make administrative errors and 22% are more likely to be injured at work.
Almost half of all policemen participating in the study admitted that they have fallen asleep at least one time while driving while one quarter of all officers said that this happens once or twice a month.
Chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital explained that obesity is the main cause of obstructive sleep apnea. About 34% of police officers are obese and have obstructive sleep apnea, though some have one condition and not the other. Policemen with obstructive sleep apnea also showed higher rates of diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, emotional exhaustion and anxiety disorders.
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