Driving Means Freedom and Risk

08 Dec Driving Means Freedom and Risk

The luxury of driving is one of our most prized assets. Driving means freedom: Freedom to leave the house, visit friends, shop where we please, drive to work, or go on vacation. In truth, before the advent of the car, being housebound was common. In the majority of human history, it was overwhelmingly common for persons to live their entire lives within 10 miles of the place they were born.  In another telling statistic, it is said that the Model T Ford, the first mass-produced vehicle, helped ameliorate depression among women in the western U.S. states. The reason? Once the car came along, it was easier for women in the west who were isolated on ranches to go visit other women and discuss their problems, which helped decrease loneliness and depression.

The modern car is a luxurious necessity. At the same time, modern pharmaceuticals are also a luxurious necessity. But many of us now think nothing of taking over-the-counter pain relievers and getting behind the wheel of a car. However, combining these two luxuries can be a serious mistake by impairing your ability to react quickly or even to stay awake while driving.

Here is a list of some of the medicines that can impair your driving skills, including your ability to react – to step on the brakes fast enough – or make healthy decisions while driving a car.

• Pain relievers
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Anti-seizure medications
• Antipsychotic medications
• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines and other cold remedies
• Sleep aids
• Muscle relaxants
• Diet pills
• Motion sickness medication
• Stimulants meant to keep you awake, including caffeine

As you can see, this list includes a broad spectrum of medications. Besides, many of these are counter-intuitive. You would think stimulants that help you stay awake would not make it to a list of drugs that make you drowsy. However, what stimulants do is keep you artificially awake. As the stimulant wears off, you come to a point where your body understands you’ve still been active when you should have been sleeping. As such, when the effects of the stimulants vanish, you find you are extremely tired and fall asleep so quickly you don’t even realize you are dozing off. This is frequently described as the “crash.” Unfortunately, it can also lead to an automobile crash with serious consequences.

Pain doctors Colorado Springs are prepared to discuss medications and alternative anti-pain strategies that can fit your lifestyle. Perhaps driving is a work necessity or one in which you and your loved ones are at risk. Discuss this in detail with pain management experts at the Colorado Springs clinic.

If you are in an accident, the first call after dialing 911 or the police should be to our clinic to assess the extent of your injuries. Remember, after the shock of a car accident, many spinal cord and neck injuries are undetected for a day or two. Get a thorough examination as quickly as possible.