Narcolepsy Network to Conduct National Screening Program for Sleep Disorders  

PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORK – March 21, 2005 – On Wednesday, March 23, Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 Narcolepsy Network, a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, will conduct a National Sleep Disorders Screening Program to increase awareness of the importance of sleep and the prevalence of undiagnosed sleep disorders in the general population.    

At this time of year, more than any other time, sleep will be on the minds of most Americans.  This is the time of year that we lose an hour of sleep with the start of Daylight Savings Time.    

Members of Narcolepsy Network will conduct the community screenings in shopping malls, retail establishments and other highly trafficked locations in nine cities across the country to highlight the importance of sleep to overall health and to screen for possible sleep disorders that people may not realize they have.  

The Screening Program will be held in the following locations:  

This program will use the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a short quiz developed to test for excessive daytime sleepiness in adults. The quiz asks questions about the likeliness of falling asleep in common situations such as sitting in a car, reading or watching television. Dr. Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, developed this test. People will be urged to consult with a physician if their Epworth score indicates that they might have a sleep disorder.  Tips on how to talk to their family physician or health care provider will also be provided.  

Take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale   

“We hope that this will be the beginning of a truly national program that will spread to other cities in the future”, says Dr. Eveline Honig, Executive Director of the Narcolepsy Network. “We believe this is a critical community service that educates people on the importance of healthy sleep habits as well as the consequences of untreated sleep disorders to overall health and quality of life.”  

Nothing will be sold at the booths. Free material about sleep and sleep disorders will be available. Materials and lists of resources on various sleep disorders as well as subjects like driving while drowsy and planning sleep for the shift worker will be distributed at each site. There will also be a drawing for an item of value at each location.    

“We are excited to be bringing these messages about sleep to the public,” Sharon Smith, president of the Narcolepsy Network said. “Sleep is a health issue. Without proper sleep the human body cannot function well and often becomes vulnerable to illnesses, hormone and brain chemical imbalances. In addition, many people don’t realize that falling asleep during the day is not normal and can be a symptom of a sleep disorder. With medical schools devoting little or no time to sleep medicine, the symptoms of sleep disorders often go unrecognized and may be misdiagnosed as depression or, especially in children, as ADD/ADHD,” she added.  

The Network has timed the National Sleep Disorders Screening Program to coincide with National Sleep Awareness Week, which is sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation and takes place during the week of March 27 - April 2. We invite media to partner with us by visiting our Sleep Disorders Screening locations and carrying this important information to their respective audiences to maximize the reach of this program.  

National Contact: Dr. Eveline Honig (914) 741-5680 ehonig@narcolepsynetwork.org