[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 39 (Friday, March 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1736-S1737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize March 8, 2008, 
as Suddenly Sleepy Saturday--A Day of Narcolepsy Awareness, part of 
National Sleep Awareness Week. Sleep is an integral part of health and 
overall well-being, and its importance cannot be stressed enough. Sleep 
disorders present a chronic health threat that can compromise normal 
physical, mental, and emotional functioning. There are an estimated 
135,000 Americans suffering from narcolepsy, and half of that total 
remains undiagnosed.
  Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder, which causes excessive daytime 
sleepiness, irresistible sleep attacks, and cataplexy--a loss of muscle 
tone, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and disrupted 
nighttime sleep in women, men, and children of all ethnic backgrounds. 
Symptoms often begin in the teen years and increase over time. 
Undiagnosed narcolepsy can impair educational goals, relationships, 
career success, and even one's independence.

[[Page S1737]]

  Suddenly Sleepy Saturday is an effort to lead the estimated 65,000 
Americans who are living with undiagnosed narcolepsy to a proper 
diagnosis and treatment. This day of awareness will allow for expanding 
knowledge of life with narcolepsy and will allow participating 
communities to better support people who struggle with the challenges 
of this chronic neurological disorder. I am pleased that many South 
Dakotans, including those in Aberdeen, SD, will be commemorating 
Suddenly Sleepy Saturday and raising awareness of narcolepsy.
  I urge all citizens to support the search for the cause, cure, and 
prevention of narcolepsy and assist those individuals and families who 
deal with this devastating disorder on a daily basis.

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