Third Annual Sleep Apnea Awareness Day Meeting

Connecting the Dots
In Sleep Disorders

Philadelphia (March 14, 2003) - Awake In Philly will be hosting a meeting on the third annual Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day.

Dr. Charles Cantor will be speaking to the sleep disorder community education group on Wednesday, April 9, 2003, on the topic of “Sleep Disorder Symptoms Unraveled.”

This will be Dr. Cantor's second presentation to the Awake In Philly group. His first presentation was at the group's initial meeting, back on October 11, 2000. The meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be held in the Conference Room at the Northeast Regional Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 2228 Cottman Avenue.

During his presentation, Dr. Cantor will touch on several points, including:

• Headaches
• EDS/IH/HH
• Snoring
• Irritability/Mood Swings/Depression
• Consequences of Sleep Loss
• Associated problems (CHF, Heart Attack, Stroke, Memory Loss)

Dr. Cantor serves as medical director of the Penn Sleep Centers, serves as medical director of the affiliated Pennsylvania Hospital 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.

Organized sponsors of Awake In Philly, in alphabetical order, include B.F. Ascher & Co., Inc.; Hans Rudolph, Inc.; Maril Products, makers of Control III Disinfectant; and Respironics, Inc.

A Control III Home Care Kit, from Maril Products, will be given away at the meeting. Maril Products donated the Home Care Kit to Awake In Philly for giveaway at the meeting. See the rules for all details.

Sleep disorders, which contribute to the national sleep debt, are more prevalent than most people believe. In fact, it's estimated that approximately one in every five people suffers from at least one sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic leg movements, and insomnia are just a few of the many sleep disorders that can, and do, rob us of the sleep we need.

The impact of sleep disorders, especially apnea, on a person's life may be many, and appear in many forms, but there are some telltale signs. While the impact is unique in each person, some of the most common areas include causing 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.

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 215-685-0501. Driving directions to the library may be accessed on the Awake In Philly site at http://www.AwakeInPhilly.org/Meetings/NERL.shtml.

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

Notes: Please bring a pen or pencil and paper for taking notes.

Contact Dave Jackson at:
PhillyAwake@scoop0901.net