Inaugural Meeting Planned

Local Sleep Specialist, Charles Cantor, M.D.,
Presents 'Overview on Sleep Disorders'

Philadelphia (Sept. 20, 2000) - Charles R. Cantor, M.D., will be the guest speaker at the inaugural meeting of a new sleep apnea support group, Awake In Philly, on Wednesday, October 11, 2000, at 7 p.m. A.W.A.K.E. is an acronym for Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic.

Dr. Cantor, board-certified in neurology, as well as sleep medicine, will address the Awake In Philly support group on the topic of "Sleep Disorders: An Overview."

The meeting will be held in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's Surgical Conference Room, located in the White Building. Entering through the main entrance, turn right immediately once inside the lobby and proceed down the hallway. For detailed directions, someone at the Information Desk, located in the main lobby, can assist.

Sleep disorders are more prevalent than most people believe. A researcher in the field of sleep medicine say about one in every five people suffers from at least one sleep disorder. Those disorders include:

• Sleep apnea

• Narcolepsy

• Periodic leg movements

• Insomnia

 Sleep disorders rob us of the sleep we need. Sleep disorders -- disturbances of sleep and wakefulness -- can have a disruptive and devastating effect on a person's life. Sleep disorders, especially apnea, can impact a person's life in many ways, including excessive daytime sleepiness, heart and lung damage, greater risk of stroke and high blood pressure, memory loss, the potential for greater involvement in traffic accidents because of tiredness, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, a decrease in productivity, weight gain, among others.

Dr. Cantor serves as medical director of Pennsylvania Hospital's Sleep Disorders Center, as well as a neurological consultant to the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Sleep Disorders. He is also a clinical assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Sponsors for Awake In Philly, in alphabetical order, include Alpine Medical, Bensalem, PA.; Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Inc.; Penn Center for Sleep Disorders; Respironics, Inc.; and SleepNet Corp.

The University of Pennsylvania is conveniently located on several SEPTA bus and trolley routes, as well as being conveniently located near SEPTA train stations, as well. For public transportation to Penn, please contact SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website at http://www.septa.org.

Awake In Philly is one of more than 200 local support groups in the national A.W.A.K.E. network, which is affiliated with the American Sleep Apnea Association, based in Washington, D.C.

A.W.A.K.E. groups are designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of sleep apnea or other disorders, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker or supervisor, researchers, physicians, attorneys, among others. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meetings.

Contact Dave Jackson at:
PhillyAWAKE@scoop0901.net

As of October 1, 2002 at 11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the U.S. population was 
288,181,442. With estimates that about five percent of the population suffers from

obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially

14,409,072 apneics in the U.S.

As of October 1, 2002 at 11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the world population was 
6,253,616,576. With estimates that about five percent of the population suffers 
from obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially

312,680,829 apneics in the world.

Awake In Philly is a support group for individuals who have been diagnosed with at least one of the recognized sleep disorders, as well as anyone else impacted by those with sleep disorders. The information on the Awake In Philly website is not intended to replace medical advice, nor is any information to be misinterpreted as an attempt to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

If you have questions about any of the medical conditions mentioned on this website, especially if you suspect that you (or someone you know) has sleep apnea, please contact a qualified medical professional immediately. The information is intended to provide support, guidance, and encouragement to others contending with the many challenges of sleep disorders. The goals of Awake In Philly are to support, educate, and inform those who feel the impact of sleep disorders, as well as the general public. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained health-care professionals.