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PRINTER'S NO. 859
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
111
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY WOZNIAK, MAY 5, 2015
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 5, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2015 as "Sleep Apnea Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The National Sleep Foundation reports that 18
million American adults have sleep apnea; and
WHEREAS, About 2% of American children suffer from sleep
apnea and symptoms in children differ from those in adults; and
WHEREAS, Children with sleep apnea generally have the
following symptoms: longer total sleep time, more effort in
breathing, hyperactivity, inattention, irritability, bed-
wetting, morning headaches and failure to grow and gain weight;
and
WHEREAS, Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person has
shallow breaths or one or more pauses in breathing while
sleeping, pauses which can last from a few seconds to a few
minutes and can occur 30 times or more per hour; and
WHEREAS, There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive,
central and mixed; and
WHEREAS, Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of
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sleep apnea and occurs when the soft tissue in the rear of the
throat closes during sleep, resulting in blocked airways; and
WHEREAS, Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive
sleep apnea and occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscle
to breathe; and
WHEREAS, Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive
and central sleep apneas; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of sleep apnea include: loud snoring,
obesity, persistent daytime sleepiness, awakening out of breath
during the night, waking up in the morning with a dry mouth or a
headache; and
WHEREAS, Sleep apnea treatments include the use of a
continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), dental
appliances, repositioning the lower jaw and tongue and upper
airway surgery to remove tissue in the airway; and
WHEREAS, Those who suffer from sleep apnea can reduce the
severity of the disorder by losing weight, avoiding alcohol and
quitting smoking; and
WHEREAS, Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, and, if left
untreated, can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease,
stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the
wheel, diabetes, depression and other ailments; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Sleep Society is an independent
organization of sleep physicians, researchers, technologists and
allied health professionals in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The objective of the Pennsylvania Sleep Society is
to promote excellence in the areas of sleep research, sleep
education and clinical practice; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Sleep Society seeks to represent
the Pennsylvania sleep community in the advocacy of public
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policy issues affecting the profession; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Sleep Society serves as a network
for sleep professionals by encouraging communication between all
practitioners, researchers and educators involved in the
practice of sleep medicine and by maintaining valuable
relationships with other allied health professionals and
organizations; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of May 2015 as
"Sleep Apnea Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize "Sleep Apnea Awareness
Month" to raise awareness of the disorder, increase education on
the long-term effects of the disorder and encourage those who
believe they suffer from the disorder to seek medical treatment;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the community service and
public education efforts of the Pennsylvania Sleep Society in
raising sleep apnea awareness in Pennsylvania.
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