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Let's begin to count the problems... What Can Lack of Sleep Do to You?Philadelphia (April 8, 2004) --Ever hear the story about the person who snored so loud he would wake the folks two streets away? Is that the same person who snorts and tosses about in his or her sleep, then gets up during the night to make dashes to the bathroom? There a good chance this person could suffer from at least one undiagnosed sleep disorder. Terri Weaver, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, who serves as an associate professor of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, will be the guest speaker at the Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Awake In Philly Community Education Group meeting. This is also the 4th Annual Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day. Terri will address the Awake In Philly group on the topic of "What Can Lack of Sleep Do to You?" During the meeting, she will address issues related to health, and what lack of sleep -- including sleep deprivation -- can do to a person's health. Dr. Weaver last addressed the group in November 2001, when the topic was "Overcoming Dating, Marriage, and Social Issues Related to CPAP or BiPAP Use." The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will be held in the Conference Room at the Northeast Regional Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 2228 Cottman Ave. Dr. Weaver is internationally recognized for her research on the affect of illness on the conduct of daily behaviors and assessment of treatment outcomes. She also developed the Pulmonary Functional Status Scale (PFSS) to measure functional status in chronic pulmonary disease. 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, increased risk for congestive heart failure, 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. According to the National Center on Sleep Disorder Research, the health consequences of sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, and excessive daytime sleepiness annually affect 50 to 70 million Americans, add approximately $15 billion to our national health care bill, and cost industry $50 billion in lost productivity. If someone stops breathing, it's always considered an emergency -- unless it happens in bed. Each night this happens to more than 18 million Americans. In fact, it's caused by a disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea, and more than 90 percent of those affected are not yet diagnosed. Researchers estimate that about seven percent of all people have sleep apnea, thus demonstrating that apnea is a silent killer, attacking while we least expect any danger -- in our sleep -- and is non-discriminatory. Dr. Weaver's current research focuses on characterizing outcomes associated with sleep disorders and their treatment. She developed the first instrument to measure functional status in disorders of excessive sleepiness in 1997. This measure has been employed in research and clinical trials internationally. She is also the principal investigator of an international study to evaluate the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). The study will be one of the largest studies to furnish evidence of the impact of OSA on quality of life, and to document the effectiveness of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Dr. Weaver and her colleagues were the first to characterize the acute decline in compliance observed during the first week of CPAP treatment. This study is currently being extended in a study designed to isolate factors contributing to this non-compliance, in which Dr. Weaver serves as the principal investigator. The study is being conducted as part of a Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) grant in collaboration with the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, School of Medicine, and the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Weaver is co-director of the Center for Urban Health Research, and member of the Center for Gerontological Nursing Science, School of Nursing, Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, and member of the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology and Institute on Aging, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. 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. To get to the Northeast Regional Library be vehicle, the library is located 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 sponsors, in alphabetical order, include B.F. Ascher & Co., Inc.; the Free Library of Phila. (NE Regional Library); Maril Products, makers of Control III Disinfectant; and ResMed. All 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. |
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Awake In Philly is a community education 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 contained in this site 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, and 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. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained healthcare professionals.
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