Taking An Active Role

Managing Your Health 
Through Understanding

PHILADELPHIA (August 18, 2001) - Not many people can lay stake to the claim they graduated medical school, but taking an active role in your healthcare doesn't require a degree. It requires interest and initiative on your part. 

The guest speaker at the Wednesday, September 19, 2001 Awake In Philly Sleep Disorders Education and Support Group meeting will be Theresa Shumard, a Respiratory and Sleep Specialist with DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical. A.W.A.K.E. is an acronym for Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic. 

Theresa will address the Awake In Philly Support Group on the topic of "Being A Better Prepared Patient." During the meeting, Theresa will discuss steps xPAP users can take to ensure their experience is optimally therapeutic, as viewed from the patient standpoint. Theresa will also discuss proper equipment care and maintenance; follow-up evaluations; methods of treatment and compliancy; self-education; and advocacy and education. 

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., and refreshments will be available for those attending the meeting. The meeting will be held in the Conference Room at the Northeast Regional Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 2228 Cottman Ave. 

Sleep apnea can be a serious disorder with grave consequences. Apnea often goes undetected and undiagnosed for years. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to heart damage, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and feelings of depression, among other problems. Apnea's impact is far-reaching. In fact, family life, job performance, social life, driving ability, and visual acuity are among a few of the areas impacted by untreated or undiagnosed sleep apnea. Research shows that treating sleep apnea normalizes one's risk for motor vehicle crashes. 

Theresa has 13 years of experience as a sleep technologist, and has also been an invited guest speaker and international lecturer at conferences for sleep medicine professionals. Theresa currently works for DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical, Inc. as a Respiratory and Sleep Specialist, in addition to serving as the editor-in-chief of The A2Zzz, an international newsmagazine for the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists. To keep herself even busier, Theresa serves on the board of directors of the Allied Health Professions Network; and as an editorial board member for Sleep Review Magazine. 

In addition to her work and volunteer activities, Theresa is the 2000 winner of the Peter A. McGregor Award, which recognizes her "outstanding service to the APT, Polysomnographic Technology, and the field of Sleep Medicine." 

Aside from her practical experience in sleep labs, Theresa also has interests in political advocacy for sleep-related initiatives; relaxation and behavior modification, as they relate to sleep disorders; and solutions for fatigue management, napping, and shift work. 

A drawing will be held at the end of the meeting for a DeVilbiss Serenity Plus Mask 9352D, which is being donated by DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical. See the rules for all details.

Awake In Philly sponsors, in alphabetical order, include B.F. Ascher & Co.; DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical; Fisher & Paykel; Hans Rudolph, inc.; Maril Products; NE Regional Library (Free Library of Phila.); Respironics, Inc.; SleepNet Corp.; and TalkAboutSleep.com.

The Northeast Regional Library is conveniently located on several SEPTA bus routes, as well as being conveniently located near a SEPTA train station. For public transportation to the Northeast Regional Library, please call SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website at http://www.septa.org. The Northeast Regional Library is about one-half mile northwest of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, and may be contacted at 215-685-0500. Driving directions to the library may be accessed on the Awake In Philly site at http://www.AwakeInPhilly.org/Meetings/NERL.shtml. 

A drawing will be held at the end of the meeting for a DeVilbiss Serenity Plus Mask 9352D, which is being donated by DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical. See the rules for all details.

Awake In Philly is designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of sleep apnea, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker or supervisor, researchers, physicians, attorneys, among others. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meetings.

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.