[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 152 (Friday, September 20, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                    RECOGNIZING WORLD NARCOLEPSY DAY

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                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 20, 2019

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of World 
Narcolepsy Day, which will be observed globally on September 22nd.
   Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition that affects about 1 
in 2,000 people by impairing the brain's ability to regulate the sleep-
wake cycle. Symptoms of narcolepsy include excessive sleepiness during 
the day, sudden episodes of muscle paralysis, sleep paralysis, 
confusing hallucinations, and a disrupted nighttime sleep.
   Due to an overall lack of public and professional awareness, 
accurate diagnosis of narcolepsy commonly takes between 8 and 15 years. 
Experts believe that the majority of people with narcolepsy are 
currently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions such as 
epilepsy, depression, and schizophrenia. More work is needed to deliver 
breakthroughs for patients impacted by this debilitating sleep 
disorder, and we must continue to support the important funding of 
medical research through the National Institutes of Health and public 
health programs through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
   World Narcolepsy Day serves to raise awareness of the experiences 
and healthcare needs of the approximately 3 million people living with 
narcolepsy across the globe, including the 200,000 people with 
narcolepsy and their loved ones in the United States. By raising 
awareness of narcolepsy, we can reduce delays in diagnosis, combat 
stigma and misperceptions, and improve health outcomes for affected 
individuals.
   I ask all Members to join me in recognizing September 22nd as World 
Narcolepsy Day.

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