Microsleep and sleep apnea often occur together
An estimated one in five people in Switzerland could have sleep apnea, according to estimates that account for undiagnosed cases. That is an enormous number and could explain why surprisingly many people are affected by microsleep, since it can be a consequence of sleep apnea.
Microsleep is often a result of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated breathing pauses during sleep. These nighttime oxygen deficits significantly disrupt deep-sleep phases. Those affected feel exhausted despite long periods of rest and develop daytime sleepiness, up to and including microsleep.
How to recognize early that microsleep is imminent, and how to tackle the problem at its root, is explained on this page.
Microsleep as a warning sign
“Microsleep is not harmless nodding off, but a serious warning sign of severe sleep deprivation. Very often, untreated sleep apnea is behind it. If the cause is treated consistently, the risk of dangerous falling-asleep moments can be significantly reduced.”
Dr. C. Nägeli
What you should know about microsleep
What exactly is microsleep?
Microsleep refers to very short sleep episodes of one to ten seconds in which the brain slips into a sleep-like state. Externally, a person may still appear to be sitting normally at the wheel, but no longer responds to stimuli. Eyes and eyelids close, attention breaks off, and important information from the surroundings is no longer processed.
What causes microsleep?
The cause of microsleep is usually non-restorative sleep, which is very often the result of sleep apnea. In this sleep disorder, breathing pauses occur repeatedly at night, constantly interrupting sleep, even though those affected often do not consciously remember it in the morning. As a result, the brain does not reach deep, restorative sleep phases. General sleep deprivation, irregular sleep schedules, shift work, and long drives also increase the risk of microsleep.
How can you recognize warning signs of microsleep at the wheel?
Typical signs include constant yawning, frequent blinking, heavy eyes, blurred vision, tunnel vision, restless steering movements, or the feeling that you “haven’t been consciously driving” for the last few minutes. Feeling cold, irritability, or a strong need for fresh air can also indicate increasing fatigue. Anyone who ignores these warning signs massively increases the risk of an accident.
What helps against microsleep while driving?
Against microsleep in the car, only one thing truly helps: a sleep break. Energy drinks, coffee, or cold air may mask fatigue briefly, but they do not remove the cause. The brain remains exhausted, and the next microsleep can occur at any time. So if you still feel tired and notice signs of microsleep despite caffeine and fresh air, pull over at the next safe opportunity.
What are the dangers of microsleep in the car?
The dangers of microsleep at the wheel should not be underestimated. Nodding off for just three seconds at 100 km/h means the car travels over 80 meters uncontrolled, across the lane, into oncoming traffic, or off the road.
Microsleep as a consequence of sleep apnea
Microsleep usually arises from severe sleep deprivation. For people with obstructive sleep apnea, this is an everyday reality. After all, sleep is interrupted night after night by breathing pauses. Blood oxygen drops, the brain triggers arousals, and restorative deep sleep fails to occur. Even those who seemingly get their six to eight hours then struggle with pronounced daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable falling-asleep moments.
Microsleep is therefore not a curable disease, but a warning signal. Anyone who wants to get rid of it must treat the underlying cause, often sleep apnea.
Depending on severity, different therapies are available. In addition to CPAP breathing therapy or mandibular advancement splints, surgical treatment may also be considered. In sleep apnea surgery, narrowed structures in the nasal, throat, or jaw area are widened or stabilized to keep the airways permanently open.
If nighttime breathing improves, microsleep usually decreases significantly, as do daytime fatigue, concentration problems, and accident risks. A sleep-medicine evaluation is therefore the first step toward greater safety and quality of life.