PRINTER'S NO. 1875
No. 203 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY STACK, WOZNIAK, WAGNER, COSTA, LOGAN, BODACK,
EARLL, ERICKSON, KUKOVICH, STOUT, O'PAKE, BRIGHTBILL, MUSTO,
BELL AND BOSCOLA, APRIL 9, 2002
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 9, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating April 10, 2002, as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Awake in Philly Community Education Group is
4 organizing the second annual "Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness
5 Day" to be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2002; and
6 WHEREAS, An estimated 712,899 Pennsylvanians suffer from
7 sleep apnea, a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing
8 disorder that can be treated in most cases; and
9 WHEREAS, Untreated, sleep apnea leads to depression, sexual
10 dysfunction and hypertension as well as an increased risk for
11 heart attack, stroke and automobile accidents; and
12 WHEREAS, Sleep apnea can be successfully treated once
13 properly diagnosed without surgery or other invasive action; and
14 WHEREAS, Through intervention and diagnosis of sleep apnea,
15 overall health care costs in this Commonwealth may be reduced,
16 and improved health, including fewer or milder cases of
17 depression, hypertension, heart attacks, stroke and automobile
1 accidents, may be seen as a benefit; and
2 WHEREAS, Numerous studies have concluded that the general
3 public, policy makers and primary care physicians lack basic
4 sleep knowledge, which compromises the health and safety of
5 everyone; and
6 WHEREAS, Medical students receive on average two hours of
7 instruction in basic sleep science during their training, which
8 covers more than 80 classified sleep disorders; and
9 WHEREAS, The societal and economic costs of untreated and
10 undiagnosed sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and chronic
11 sleepiness, are devastating; and
12 WHEREAS, Sleep deprivation and untreated sleep disorders are
13 estimated to cost Americans over $100 billion annually in lost
14 productivity, medical expenses, sick leave and property and
15 environmental damage; and
16 WHEREAS, Organizers of the 2002 "Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea
17 Awareness Day" recognize that education is the foundation of
18 civilized societies and are committed to educating business,
19 government and the public at large, creating an awareness of the
20 impact of untreated and undiagnosed sleep disorders; and
21 WHEREAS, During the 2002 "Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness
22 Day," Awake in Philly Community Education Group and other
23 organizations will be sharing information at events in malls and
24 other locations throughout this Commonwealth; therefore be it
25 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate April 10, 2002, as "Sleep
26 Apnea Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania and commend Awake in Philly
27 Community Education Group for its involvement in raising
28 awareness of sleep apnea.
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