Do you snore loudly or are you a restless sleeper? Do you wake up with a headache? Are you tired throughout your day? If any of these symptoms apply to you, it is probably a good idea to ask your doctor about sleep apnea.

According to Webmd.com, sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that occurs when a person stops breathing on a regular basis or has slowed breathing during sleep for ten seconds or longer. The condition can be mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of times per hour the breathing stops.

Over the past few years, many medical journals have conducted studies where they found that truck drivers are more prone to develop sleep apnea. A 2003 study sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the American Trucking Association estimated that nearly one in three truck drivers suffer from mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea. This was due in part to shorter durations of sleep and irregular sleeping patterns.

Other factors that increase your chances of developing sleep apnea include obesity, using certain medications or alcohol before bed and sleeping on your back. If you already have sleep apnea, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure, an abnormal heart rate, heart failure, coronary artery disease and stroke.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about any suspicions or concerns that you may have.