PPSG - April/May 2004 Support Group Newsletter

Parkinson's Unity Walk

Fund the Research — Find the Cure!

Saturday May 15, 2004, Sunnyvale

Registration: 9 AM; Meet at parking lot of Target Store   (corner of Sunnyvale & Iowa)

Downtown Sunnyvale

Walk begins: 10 AM

Total distance of walk: 1.2 miles
Sponsored by: Whole Foods Market

Prizes awarded to top five fund-raisers!!

P. F. Chang's

Il postale

Spa Package

24 Hour Fitness

Proceeds support:

Parkinson's Disease Foundation

The Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Parkinson Alliance

The Parkinson's Institute

National Parkinson Foundation

Parkinson's Action Network

**For a walker registration form: www.parkinsonsinstitute.org

This newsletter was assembled by

The Morgan Center in Santa Clara.

Southern Region Support Group

Leaders Seminar, Hollister, March 26, 2004

By Elliot Schrier, Chair, PPSG

On March 26, PPSG and the Hollister Support Group sponsored a meeting of the Support Group Leaders from the Southern Region. Attendance was gratifying: 20 people were there from all of the 10 Southern Region Support groups. At least some of the turnout can be attributed to the efforts of John Skinner, Hollister Support Group Leader. Elliot Schrier and Charmaine Eng represented PPSG, with Elliot moderating the meeting. Venus Ilagen substituted for Dr. Tetrud; several attendees expressed their disappointment at the substitution.

During the discussion from 10:00 to 12:30, the group leaders raised the following issues of concern to them:

Availability and cost of transportation for Parkinson's patients;

Access to experienced neurologists for second opinions;

Credibility of Parkinson's patient and advocate organizations among the medical community;

Alternative therapies, publications and speakers;

Lending library of Parkinson's-specific publications; and

Stress reduction.

A well-catered lunch was served at 12:30, and the discussion continued at tables for 8.

The primary goal of introducing the group leaders to each other and to PPSG was fully achieved. Among the post-meeting comments was a hope that the meeting will become an annual event. John Skinner agreed to host it again next year. Helen Garrett's comment (in a letter to John Skinner) is perhaps indicative of the response to the meeting: "It turned out to be a real support group for Kathy and me — and we arrived home full of ideas and renewed enthusiasm."

Berkeley

The group meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Northbrae Community Church (new location). The address is 941 The Alameda, Berkeley, and the meeting time is 10:00 AM-12:00 noon.For information, call Mitzi Cahn at 510-527-9075.

Daly City

The Daly City Support Group meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, at Doelger Senior Center, 101 Lake Merced Blvd., Daly City. For Support Group information, please contact Leonard Ke at 415-587-1285.

Fremont

Our speaker at the February meeting was Shawn Fong, Paratransit Program Manager for the City of Fremont. Her primary topic concerned paratransit operations in Fremont, Newark, Union City, and she also touched on East Bay Paratransit. She enlightened us on many aspects of paratransit that most of us were unaware of. Her presentation showed us how she coordinates paratransit within the Bay Area. If anyone wishes to contact Shawn, she can be reached at 510-574-2023.

Our speaker for the March 22 meeting was Donna Kos. She is a volunteer who helps raise funds for the benefit of Parkinson's research in memory of her father, who had PD. Her primary method of doing so is by sponsoring "A Walk-a-Thon" which involves families and friends of Parkinson's patients. We appreciated her efforts on behalf of the PD community and her willingness to speak to our group.

The Fremont Support Group meetings are held on the 4th Monday of the month, at 7:00 PM, at the Fremont Senior Center, 40086 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont.

If you have any questions, please call Lettie Webb at 510-656-6393 or Bob Coon at 510-794-7988.

Fremont Caregivers

For information regarding the caregiver program in Fremont, please contact Nancy Rothschild, Caregiver Project Coordinator, at 510- 494-4268.

Deadline for the June support group newsletter is Tuesday, May11. Articles of contribution must be received by PPSG by the above date. Thanks.

Hollister

On April 6, Gary D. Thorud, Director of Development, of the Parkinson's Institute, was our speaker, and his presentation was outstanding.

The Hollister Support Group meets on the 1st Tuesday of every month, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM, at First Presbyterian Church, 2066 Cienega Road, Hollister.

Please contact John Skinner at 831-637-6755, or Shirley Kennedy at 831- 637-3839.

Magnolia — Peninsula

May 13                  Round table discussion.

June 10                Dr. James Tetrud, Clinical Director at the Parkinson's Institute, will discuss current treatments and medications.

July                       No meeting.

August 12            Dr. Marcia Raggio, Licensed Audiologist, will discuss hearing loss in the aging process and how to combat it.

September 9       Dr. Robert Telfer, well-known Peninsula neurologist, will update us on the latest in treatments and medications.

October 14          Tracy Stewart, clinical nurse at the Parkinson's Institute, will talk about current trials, etc., at the Institute.

November 11      Dr. Michael Aminoff, professor of Neurology at UCSF, will answer questions about medicinal choices and dosages.

December 9        Awaiting speaker acceptance.

The Magnolia-Peninsula Parkinson's Support Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, at 1:30 PM, in the West conference room at The Magnolia of Millbrae apartment complex, located at 201 Chadbourne Avenue, corner of Magnolia, Millbrae.

Special thank you to the Magnolia staff for their generosity in providing refreshments for our meetings.

   For more information please call Leon Rosenthal at 650-348-3480.

Marin County

Our April 27 speaker was Dr. Julie Andersen from the Buck Institute for age research.
The topic was research updates.

The Marin Parkinson's Support Group meets on the 4th Tuesday afternoon of most months, from 2 to 4 PM, at The Redwoods auditorium, 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. The telephone number for The Redwoods is 415-383-2741. For information about the meeting, please contact Gloria Rasti, at 415-381-6680.

Monterey

We meet at the S.H.A.R.E. Room, at Monterey Adult School, 200 Coe Ave., Seaside.The group meets on the 3rd Monday of the month, from 2:30 to 4:00 PM.

For further information, please call Kathy Warthan at 831-372-7510 or Helen Garrett at 831-657-4241.

Mt. Diablo Parkinson's Network

Basic meeting: Meets on second Mondays from 11AM — 2:30PM at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd.,Walnut Creek. The meeting includes a speaker, light lunch, exercise, and discussion groups. Contact Margy Hansell at 925-939-4210.

Early Onset Support Group: Meets on third Saturdays from 10AM — noon at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Call Nancy Wall at 510-236-7065, or Philip Wheeler at 510-527-3588.

Caregivers Support Group: Meets on last Wednesdays at Jewel Wallach's in Rossmoor, Walnut Creek. Call for information at 510-236-7065.

Pleasanton Tri-Valley Support Group: Meets on second Saturdays, 10AM — noon at Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton.

For information call Sal Vepa at 925-462-5838.

The Parkinson's Institute is the one place in the U.S. where basic science, epidemiology and clinical research come together, giving the Institute "a clear advantage in solving the complex riddle of Parkinson's disease."

-Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., NIEHS Director

Oakland

Our April 1 speaker was Elaine Hofmann. Ms. Hofmann served as a physical therapist for years at Kaiser in Oakland. Her specialities include: acute care, neurology and pediatrics. She also leads a water aerobics class.

Our speaker for the May 6 meeting is Lynn Vial, Nurse Practioner, and American Indian Healing Practioner. Lynn will bring information about native American healing practices.

Taxi scrip is available! Contact Robert Lemon.

The Oakland Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at the Easter Seals Bay Area, 180 Grand Avenue, Suite 300, Oakland. For further information, please call Robert Lemon, at 510-526-2078.

Palo Alto

Our speaker for the May 12 meeting is Dr. Rob Fields, of the Parkinson's Institute. He will speak on the GDNF pump, a very exciting and promising research.

Our June 9 speaker will be a neurologist from Davis University sponsored by the Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical Company.

The Palo Alto Support Group meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, at Avenidas (the Palo Alto Senior Center), in the dining room (La Comida), 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. For meeting information call Linda Chen, at 650-493-9095. For directions, call (650) 326-5362.

Disclaimer

This document is published to promote a greater awareness of the problems caused by Parkinson's disease. Neither the Peninsula Parkinson's Support Groups, Inc., its members and employees, nor the individuals involved in its production make any warranty, express or implied, assume any liability or responsibility for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or represent that it will not infringe privately owned rights. Mention of any product, material, or service shall not, nor is it intended to, imply approval, disapproval, or fitness for any particular use.

Redwood City

Friday, April 16. Brenda Cabral of BAK Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services helped us get our bodies, brains, and muscles more active.

Friday, May 21. Neurologist Charan Singh, MD, was the featured speaker at PPAP's initial meeting in 1997, and has favored us with two subsequent visits as well. She has first-hand experience working with Parkinson's patients of all ages, and speaks with both compassion and understanding.

Friday, June 18. Ann Wilkinson is both a Psychologist and a Registered Nurse. She brings the best of both healing arts to her unique approach. Her concern for the caregiver(s) is matched by her concern for those of us diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Many thanks to David Donohoe, who made the trek up from Santa Cruz to tell us of his Deep Brain Stimulation (surgery performed at the Veterans Affairs Parkinson's Research, Education and Clinical Center in San Francisco) at our March meeting. Inspiring to all of us!

PPAP-Positive People Against Parkinson's-meets on the 3rd Friday of each month, from 12:30 to 2:00 PM, at Sequoia Health & Wellness Center, 702 Marshall Street, Redwood City. Parking available in the rear. For more information, call the Sequoia Center at 650-367-5998.

Salinas

The Salinas Support Group meets every 4th Wednesday of the month, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at The Salinas Adult School, 20 Sherwood Place, Salinas. For further information, please call Elaine Viens (new contact), at Delmar Research, 831-424-4359 x 10.

San Jose - Willow Glen

The San Jose Support Group meets on the 1st Friday of the month at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Avenue, San Jose, between 10:00 and 12:00 noon.

Please call Betty Havens at 408-269-2167.

Kujiweza Healing Arts

Email: Yogataichikung@aol.com

Contact: Jane at 408-315-1179

Class Meets: Saturdays 10 - 11AM, followed by Practice & Questions: 11 - 11:30AM Location: Atrium of Stanford Hospital (ground floor) in Palo Alto

San Jose - Berryessa

The group meets at Berryessa Community Center, 3050 Berryessa Rd., San Jose, on the 1st Wednesday of the month, 12:30-2 PM.

Contact: Bob and Jane Pomeroy at 408-263-8485.

San Jose Caregivers

The San Jose Caregivers Support Group usually meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month, from 1:30- 3:30 PM at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Avenue, San Jose. Please come to the meetings, we can learn from one another!

For information, please call Dr. Linda Filice at 408-978-2859, or Dr. Charmaine Eng at 408-723-8116.

San Leandro

The group meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, except summer months, at 10 AM, at The Education Center of San Leandro Hospital, 13855 East 14th Street, San Leandro.
For meeting information, please call Roy Burnham, at 707-781-3308.

San Mateo Caregivers

The group meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM (new time), Ellsworth Room, 100 San Mateo Drive, San Mateo. Call Mills Health Center, at 800-654-9966.

Saratoga

The Saratoga Support Group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 19449 Via Real, Saratoga, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. For information, please call Lois McPherson at 408-867-1807.

MAILING LIST

If you would like to be removed from our mailing list or know someone who would like to be included, please take a minute, call us at 408-734-1593, and let us know.

Sonoma County

The Sonoma County Support Group meets on the 1st Saturday of the month, except July, September, and January, from 1-3 PM. For meeting location and information, contact Sue Croel at 707-544-5151.

Sunnyvale

The speaker for May 12 is Mary Swindlehurst from Kaiser Hospital. Mary will talk about relaxation techniques and visual imaging methods including using audio tapes to help to smooth anxiety before going in for surgery.

The Sunnyvale Support Group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month between 1:00 and 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 535 Old San Francisco Road, Sunnyvale. For information, please call Dr. Linda Filice at 408-978-2859, or Phyllis and Henry Ng at 408-733-5648.

Tulare-Kings (formerly Visalia)

The Tulare-Kings group meets on the 1st Friday of the month, at 10:00 AM, at Visalia United Methodist Church, 5200 W. Caldwell Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277.
For more information, please contact Mary Dickerson (new leader), at 559-622-9044 or the church office at 559-627-1660.

Turlock

The Turlock Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, from 2-3 PM at Emanuel Hospital, Delbon Street, Turlock. For further information, please call Marion Johnson at 209-634-3157 or Jean Okuye at 209-394-2421.

Vallejo

The group meets on the 3rd Monday of the month, except January and February, when they meet on the 2nd Monday. The meeting starts at 2 PM, at the Kaiser Medical Center, 975 Sereno Drive, Vallejo.

For meeting information, please call Evelyn Fox, at 707-644-3390.

YOPD (for patients under age 50)

The group meets in the Board Room of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, at 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA, on 2nd Tuesday of every month, from 6:30 to 8 PM.

   For information, please call Bill Lev at 831-662-3825.

YPSG

The Young Parkinson’s Support Group meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month, between 10:00 AM and 12:00 noon at the Live Oak Room, at United Methodist Church of Los Altos, Foothill Expressway and Magdalena Avenue, Los Altos. For information, contact Rich Brongel at 650-952-3849, or email: rbrongel@ccsf.edu

Aussie Scientists Get Teeth Into Stem Cell Research

Sydney (Reuters), Sunday April 04, 2004 — The baby teeth children hide under their pillows for the mythical tooth fairy may one day be used to extract stem cells for life-saving treatments, Australian scientists said. Infant teeth have been identified as a valuable source of the master cells and are much easier to obtain than controversial embryonic stem cells, said researchers from the Hanson Institute at South Australia’s Royal Adelaide Hospital. “Stem cells in adult tissues can be difficult to get or present in very small amounts,” said Hanson Institute Director Howard Morris.

“Pulp in teeth is quite a good source of stem cells and they are very amenable to getting hold of. You lose a whole mouthful of them when you are a young child,” he told Australian Associated Press.

Stem cells are master cells in the body that have the capability to transform into any cell or tissue. Researchers believe they have the potential to revolutionize medicine.

The baby teeth research is still in its infancy, but the Adelaide scientists hope it could one day be used to treat illness such as Parkinson’s disease or to repair crucial organs such as the heart or kidney and avoid the need for transplants.

“We are still at the point where we are really identifying these cells in a test tube,” Morris said.

Adapted from www.Reuters.com. James McKarns forwarded this article. Thanks, Jim!

For Caregivers

Caregiver stress comes from many sources, notes Sandra Brown-Robinson, LCSW, program coordinator for complex chronic conditions case management programs for Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region.

“(One source) is the lack of time the caregiver has for himself or herself,” says Brown-Robinson. “Many times the health of the caregiver will decline dramatically because they are not keeping their medical appointments, and they may ignore aches, pains and other signs of illness because of their overwhelming responsibility for their loved one.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, some warning signs that the stress may be too much include:

Denial that your loved one has a disease.

Anger at your loved one or others.

Withdrawing from friends and family.

Anxiety.

Depression.

Exhaustion.

Sleeplessness.

Inability to concentrate.

Increasing health problems.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it’s time to stop and think — what kind of caregiver will you be if you are so stressed that you become depressed and ill?

Now take a break and ease your stress by:

Making time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes to bathe or sit and do nothing.

Caring for yourself. Eat a nutritious diet, take time for regular exercise, and rest as much as possible.

Asking for help from friends and family.

Looking for help in the community. Your church may have services you can use or may help you find volunteers. You can also contact the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for help finding local resources, such as adult day care or home help.

In addition, the social work department at your local Kaiser Permanente medical center may be able to provide information about respite services or adult day services, says Brown-Robinson.

Adapted from Senior Outlook, Spring 2004 issue, a publication from Kaiser Permanente.

A Culture That Sometimes Touts

Sleep Loss Has A Health Problem

By Earl Lane, Washington Bureau

Chronic sleep loss and untreated sleep disorders have become a serious public health concern, and it is time for them to be addressed with the same urgency as the campaigns against smoking, drunk driving and obesity, experts say.

While there is increasing research evidence on the harmful effects of disturbed sleep, getting the word out beyond the lab has lagged, specialists said at a recent two-day meeting on sleep and sleep disorders at the National Institutes of Health.

“The people who need the message are the most distant from it,” Surgeon General Richard Carmona told the gathering. “Improving health literacy on sleep disorders is long overdue.” Several participants called for a surgeon general’s report on sleep and public health, comparable to the landmark report on smoking and health in 1964 that started to tip the balance of public opinion on tobacco use.

Carmona said there is no lack of research on the effects of inadequate sleep. But he said the challenge is how to change a culture in which sleep deprivation sometimes can be a badge of honor. “It’s not a sign of weakness to get some sleep,” Carmona said.

According to the conference organizers, 50 million to 70 million Americans suffer health consequences of sleep disorders, sleep deprivation and excessive daytime sleepiness each year, adding about $15 billion to the nation’s health-care bill and costing industry about $50 billion in lost productivity.

Moreover, sleep problems can kill.

“We’ve got to get over the ‘cuteness’ of sleepiness and confront the biological danger of sleepiness,” said the University of Pennsylvania’s David Dinges, an expert on excessive sleepiness and fatigue. He said that 22 consecutive hours of wakefulness affect performance on psychomotor tasks the same as if the person had a 0.08 blood-alcohol concentration.

Sleeping at the wheel The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that 1 percent to 4 percent of highway crashes and 4 percent of fatal crashes are caused by sleepiness, Dinges said.

Many sleep researchers think those numbers are too low.

“Sleepiness can kill you quick,” Dinges said.

A driver who nods off at 60 mph can drift off the highway at a four- degree angle in less than four seconds, he said. Drowsy driving represents perhaps the greatest risk to those who have inadequate sleep, Dinges said

Crashes linked to drowsy driving peak between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m., he said, when the body’s neurobiological pacesetter is at a low.

Dr. Charles Czeisler, a Harvard University sleep specialist, noted that the body’s strongest drive for waking is in the evening, just before our usual bedtime, while production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin peaks at 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. in the average American.

The groups at risk for sleep-related vehicle crashes, Dinges said, include those who sleep fewer than six hours a day; young adult males ages 16 to 24; commercial drivers; night-shift workers; those driving after prolonged work hours, such as medical residents at hospitals; and patients with untreated sleep disorders.

Dangers of sleep disorders While sleepiness can cause traumatic death in transportation accidents, disordered sleep also can have more subtle effects.

Sleep quality can affect the progression of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other illnesses, specialists said. Dr. Virend Somers, a specialist on cardiovascular diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said there is compelling data linking obstructive sleep apnea - a disorder marked by abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep - with changes in arterial blood chemistry and other events that can lead to heart disease.

There is increasing data, from animal studies and human population studies, suggesting an association between sleep-disordered breathing and high blood pressure. There also are hints that such disordered breathing may be associated with increased risk of stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure.

“There has been increasing awareness, in particular from the cardiologists, regarding the potential cardiovascular implications” of sleep loss, said Dr. Michael Weinstein, director of the sleep disorders center at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola. “We see many more referrals from cardiologists,” he said in a phone interview.

Some new data suggest that chronic sleep loss also is associated with hormonal changes, including decreased tolerance for glucose and increased insulin resistance, according to Eve Van Cauter, director of the sleep lab at the University of Chicago. “Sleep is a major modulator of glucose tolerance,” she said.

The severity of diabetes is directly associated with the severity of disturbed sleep, according to the National Sleep Disorders Research Plan for 2003, a federal roadmap for research on sleep disorders.

Van Cauter said it is possible that sleep loss might represent a risk factor for developing obesity and diabetes. She said the possible connections between sleep loss and obesity deserve more study, given the increasing problem of obesity in the American populace.

Insomnia and depression As for the more familiar sleep-related disorders, researchers have been developing new insights into the causes and treatment of such problems as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome.

But too often, they said, the latest findings are not translated quickly enough into useful information for clinicians and patients. Insomnia has long been viewed as a symptom that can develop as a result of depression.

But studies also show there is feedback in the other direction: Those who have trouble sleeping can develop depression as a result.

“Recent studies show insomnia is a risk factor for depression,” said Thomas Roth, a sleep researcher at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He cited one study in which those with insomnia had a fivefold increase in risk of depression compared to those without the sleep problem.

Dr. Daniel Buysse, a University of Pittsburgh psychiatrist, said it is time for physicians to stop regarding insomnia as “a nuisance symptom.” It is a disorder with real consequences, he said, including increased absenteeism at work, higher risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident and increased risk of cognitive decline in later years.

Buysee said the good news is that behavioral techniques have proved successful in treating insomnia. He said the basic treatment includes such guidelines as: restrict time in bed; establish a regular wake-up time; go to bed only when sleepy; stay in bed only when asleep; and avoid practices that can hurt sleep, such as drinking caffeine or alcohol in the hours before bedtime.

Dr. Emmanuel Mignot, a Stanford University sleep specialist, said there has been much progress in understanding narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness accompanied by episodes of muscle limpness known as cataplexy.

The prevalence of narcoplesy-catalepsy is about 1 in 2,000 persons, according to Mignot. “Most people in general practice have no clue they should be used for narcolepsy,” Mignot said.

Similarly, Dr. Mark Mahowald, director of a regional sleep disorders center at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, said that there are off-label treatments available for restless legs syndrome.

The syndrome, marked by an irresistible need to keep the legs in motion during sleep, is one of the more prevalent and readily treatable causes of severe insomnia, Mahowald said.

The syndrome usually responds dramatically to some of the newer dopamine agents developed for Parkinson’s disease such as pramipexole or ropinirole.

But Mahowald said many practitioners have never even heard of restless legs syndrome, a situation he attributed in part to the lack of courses on sleep-related disorders in many medical schools. He said that about one-third of medical schools do not have sleep medicine in their curriculum.

Test your sleep IQ

This quiz was prepared by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Answer true or false to each statement.

1.   Sleep is a time when your body and brain shut down for rest and relaxation.

2.   If you regularly doze off unintentionally during the day, you may need more than just a good night’s sleep.

3.   If you snore loudly and persistently at night and are sleepy during the day, you may have a sleep disorder.

4.   Opening the car window or turning up the radio will keep a drowsy driver awake.

5. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder marked by “sleep attacks.”

6.   The primary cause of insomnia is worry.

7.   One cause of not getting enough sleep is restless legs syndrome.

8.   The body has a natural ability to adjust quickly to different sleep schedules such as working different shifts or traveling through multiple time zones.

9.   People need less sleep as they grow older.

10. More people doze off at the wheel in early morning or mid-afternoon than at night.

ANSWERS:

1. False. Although it is a time when your body rests and restores its energy levels, sleep is an active state that affects your physical and mental well-being. Adequate restful sleep is critical to good health. Insufficient restful sleep can result in mental and physical health problems and possibly premature death.

2. True. Many people doze off unintentionally during the day despite getting their usual night of sleep. This could be a sign of a sleep disorder.

3. True. Persistent loud snoring at night and daytime sleepiness are the main symptoms of sleep apnea, a common and serious sleep disorder.

4. False. Opening the car window or turning the radio up may arouse a drowsy driver briefly, but this won’t keep that person alert.

5. True. People with narcolepsy fall asleep uncontrollably regardless of the amount of sleep the night before.

6. False. Insomnia has many causes, including physical and mental conditions and stress. It is important to get it diagnosed and treated if it persists for more than a month.

7. True. Restless legs syndrome is distinguished by tingling sensations in the legs and sometimes the arms - while sitting or lying still, especially at bedtime. A person with RLS has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and usually feels extremely sleepy and unable to function fully during the day.

8. False. The human body’s biological clock programs each person to feel sleepy during the nighttime hours and to be active during daylight. People working the night shift are constantly fighting their biological clocks. Sleeping during the day in a dark, quiet bedroom and getting exposure to sufficient bright light at the right time can help.

9. False. As we get older, we don’t need less sleep, but we often get less sleep. Our ability to sleep for long periods of time and to get into the deep restful stages of sleep decreases with age.

10. True. Our bodies are programmed by our biological clock to experience two natural periods of sleepiness during the 24-hour day. The primary period is between about midnight and 7 a.m. A second period of less intense sleepiness is between about 1 and 3 p.m. This means that we are more at risk of falling asleep at the wheel at these times - especially if we haven’t had enough sleep.