1Designating the month of May 2013 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 where a person has
13shallow breaths or one or more pauses in breathing while
14sleeping, pauses which can last from a few seconds to a few
15minutes and can occur 30 times or more per hour; and

1WHEREAS, There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive,
2central and mixed; and

3WHEREAS, Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of
4sleep apnea and occurs when the soft tissue in the rear of the
5throat closes during sleep, resulting in blocked airways; and

6WHEREAS, Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive
7sleep apnea and occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscle
8to breathe; and

9WHEREAS, Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive
10and central sleep apneas; and

11WHEREAS, Symptoms of sleep apnea include: loud snoring,
12obesity, persistent daytime sleepiness, awakening out of breath
13during the night, waking up in the morning with a dry mouth or a
14headache; and

15WHEREAS, Sleep apnea treatments include the use of a
16continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), dental
17appliances, repositioning the lower jaw and tongue and upper
18airway surgery to remove tissue in the airway; and

19WHEREAS, Those who suffer from sleep apnea can reduce the
20severity of the disorder by losing weight, avoiding alcohol and
21quitting smoking; and

22WHEREAS, Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, and, if left
23untreated, can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease,
24stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the
25wheel, diabetes, depression and other ailments; therefore be it

26RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May
272013 as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
28further

29RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize "Sleep
30Apnea Awareness Month" to raise awareness of the disorder,

1increase education on the long-term effects of the disorder and
2encourage those who believe they suffer from the disorder to
3seek medical treatment.