FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcia Stein/Anne Nicholas, NSF
(202) 347-3471, x 205/217
Ed Grandi, ASAA (202) 293-3650
NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION AND AMERICAN SLEEP APNEA ASSOCIATION TEAM UP FOR "SLEEP APNEA AWARENESS DAY" THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Two Leading Sleep Organizations Focus on Serious Sleep Disorder During National Sleep Awareness Week 2005
WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 15 -- A day devoted to raising awareness about the symptoms of sleep apnea and the importance of treatment will take place March 31 during National Sleep Awareness Week 2005. "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" is the focus of a special collaboration between the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA).
"Sleep Apnea Awareness Day marks the first time NSF has teamed up with another organization to spotlight a particular sleep issue during National Sleep Awareness Week, our annual health promotion campaign," says Richard L. Gelula, NSF’s CEO. "We hope this new awareness effort will help people recognize the symptoms of this serious and debilitating sleep disorder and seek treatment."
"It is estimated that about 18 million people have sleep apnea, but millions of these adults and children have no idea that they have this problem. They suffer needlessly from a common and potentially life threatening medical disorder, which can be treated," says Edward Grandi, ASAA’s executive director. "That’s why we feel this new initiative with NSF during National Sleep Awareness Week is so important – it’s all about raising awareness."
Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, which can result in both sleep disturbance and reduced oxygen delivery to vital organs. Common symptoms include snoring, daytime sleepiness, weight gain, and un-refreshing sleep. While everyone who snores does not necessarily have sleep apnea, a recent NSF poll found that more that one-third of America’s adults reported they snored frequently, a problem more prevalent among men than women. Sleep apnea is more than just a noisy nuisance; it is associated with hypertension, automobile accidents, mood and memory problems, and heart disease.
Both NSF and ASAA will encourage their respective members to team up at the community level to raise awareness about sleep apnea on Sleep Apnea Awareness Day. These groups include sleep centers throughout the country who comprise NSF’s Community Sleep Awareness Partners® (CSAP) program and ASAA’s A.W.A.K.E. Network of support groups for people with sleep apnea.
A unique feature of Sleep Apnea Awareness Day will be a "Snore Score", a simple questionnaire developed by ASAA to help someone determine if he/she is at risk for the sleep disorder. Anyone answering ‘yes’ to any of the questions is urged to talk to a doctor to see if further evaluation is needed.
The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting education, sleep-related research and advocacy.
The American Sleep Apnea Association is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea and to enhancing the well-being of those affected by this common disorder. The ASAA promotes education and awareness within the public and the medical community, fosters the ASAA A.W.A.K.E. Network of voluntary mutual support groups, and advocates for those living with sleep apnea.
