LUCKNOW, Jan. 31 -- Dozing off while driving due to obstructive sleep apnea could be contributing to 25-30 per cent of road accidents, experts argued at a road safety awareness programme organised by the state transport department on Friday. Senior pulmonologist Dr Apoorva Singh cautioned that untreated sleep apnea dramatically increased the risk of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. "Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, sometimes for more than 10 seconds at a time. These pauses can occur multiple times a night, leading to severe daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, and delayed reaction time," she said. According to Dr Singh, oxygen levels dropping several times in sleep placed enormous strain on vital organs and significantly raised the risk of heart attack, stroke, and fatal road accidents. She added that timely diagnosis and treatment could reduce accident risk by up to 70%. Echoing the concern, Dr RAS Kushwaha, chief proctor and a professor of respiratory medicine at KGMU, said rising obesity levels are a major contributor to the growing incidence of sleep apnea. Doctors highlighted several early warning signs that should not be ignored, including excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, frequent night-time awakenings and repeated urge to urinate at night. "Anyone experiencing these symptoms should undergo screening. If the risk is moderate to severe, a sleep study becomes essential," Dr Singh said....