[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 41 (Wednesday, April 5, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would extend my 
congratulations to all of the athletes that we have heard talked about. 
In my own congressional district, the Westinghouse High School boys 
team went to the finals, lost by three points. Unfortunately, they did 
not win; but they came close, and, of course, the Marshall High School 
girls were city champs. They did not win the championship this year, 
but they have won it so many times until they know that they will be 
back next year.
  Mr. Speaker, last week was National Sleep Awareness Week. I rise 
today to pay tribute to the work that the National Sleep Foundation and 
other health professionals are doing in this arena. I think it is 
important that we recognize the efforts of medical researchers who have 
devoted their professional careers to studying the impact of fatigue 
and sleep disorders on our Nation's health, safety, and productivity. 
We should also take time to reevaluate our own personal health habits 
and determine how we can improve our own health in order to be stronger 
and more effective citizens.
  While physicians and patients now pay attention to the adverse health 
impacts of poor nutrition and inadequate exercise, too few people pay 
attention to the harm that can result from inadequate or disordered 
sleep. Sleep scientists have linked such ailments as high blood 
pressure, hypertension, depression, and cardiovascular disease to 
inadequate sleep. The National Institutes of Health estimate that 40 
million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, the vast 
majority of which remain undiagnosed and untreated; and another 20 to 
30 million suffer intermittent sleep-related problems.
  The survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that 58 
million Americans report suffering excessive daytime sleepiness at 
levels that interfere with their day-to-day activities. Evidence tells 
us that America's sleep debt is on the rise. Yet numerous studies have 
concluded that the general public and primary care physicians lack the 
basic sleep knowledge to address these problems. As a result, the toll 
on human health, safety and productivity is enormous.
  This problem is more than simply getting a good night's rest. It 
encompasses medical problems, lack of education, and the tools required 
to address this public health concern. Sleepiness, whether the result 
of untreated sleep disorders, volitional sleep deprivation, or shift 
work has also been identified as casual factors in a growing number of 
on-the-job injuries. This corresponds directly in lost productivity, 
personal injuries, medical expense, property and environmental damage 
due to sleep disorders and sleep deprivation.
  The cost of this problem is estimated by the National Sleep 
Foundation to exceed $100 billion each year. It is the personal 
injuries that are the most tragic part of this equation. However, we 
hear numerous reports on television and in the news about drivers who 
fall asleep at the wheel and kill themselves, a family member, or an 
innocent bystander.
  As I alluded to earlier in my statement, there are ongoing research 
efforts into the impact of sleep deprivation. I am privileged that the 
Northwestern University Medical School in my district; and one of my 
constituents, Dr. Phyllis Zee of Oak Park, Illinois, has spent over a 
decade creating innovative approaches to improved sleep and daytime 
performance in older adults and by conducting research on the genetic 
basis for human sleep disorders.
  As with any type of important health research, there is also need to 
provide information to the members of the community at greatest risk. 
Many minorities, for example, do not receive education on proper sleep 
habits or recognition of symptoms that could indicate a chronic 
disorder. Through the work of the National Sleep Foundation, however, 
outreach to high-risk groups is beginning to change. It is important 
that we in Congress support these efforts and support strong public 
education and prevention programs to address this public health issue 
and this public health crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, I would hope that all Americans would look seriously at 
something as simple as getting enough rest, getting enough sleep and 
the impact that it can have on enhancing rather than diminishing the 
quality of life for all of us.

                          ____________________