1Designating the month of May 2014 as "Sleep Apnea Awareness
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The National Sleep Foundation reports that 18
4million American adults have sleep apnea; and

5WHEREAS, About 2% of American children suffer from sleep
6apnea, and symptoms in children differ from those in adults; and

7WHEREAS, Children with sleep apnea generally have the
8following symptoms: longer total sleep time, more effort in
9breathing, hyperactivity, inattention, irritability, bed-
10wetting, morning headaches and failure to grow and gain weight;
11and

12WHEREAS, Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person
13has shallow breaths or one or more pauses in breathing while
14sleeping, which can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and

1can occur 30 times or more per hour; and

2WHEREAS, There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive,
3central and mixed; and

4WHEREAS, Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of
5sleep apnea and occurs when the soft tissue in the rear of the
6throat closes during sleep, resulting in blocked airways; and

7WHEREAS, Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive
8sleep apnea and occurs when the brain fails to signal the
9muscles to breathe; and

10WHEREAS, Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive
11and central sleep apneas; and

12WHEREAS, Symptoms of sleep apnea include: loud snoring,
13obesity, persistent daytime sleepiness, awakening out of breath
14during the night and waking up in the morning with a dry mouth
15or a headache; and

16WHEREAS, Sleep apnea treatments include the use of a
17continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), dental
18appliances, repositioning the lower jaw and tongue and upper
19airway surgery to remove tissue in the airway; and

20WHEREAS, Those who suffer from sleep apnea can reduce the
21severity of the disorder by losing weight, avoiding alcohol and
22quitting smoking; and

23WHEREAS, Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, and, if left
24untreated, can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease,
25stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the
26wheel, diabetes, depression and other ailments; therefore be it

27RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May
282014 as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
29further

30RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize Sleep

1Apnea Awareness Month to raise awareness of the disorder,
2increase education on the long-term effects of the disorder and
3encourage those who believe they suffer from the disorder to
4seek medical treatment.