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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Sleep disorders contribute
to significant major diseases
By
James J. Murtagh, M.D.
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: James Murtagh of Atlanta has
practiced 20 years as a Pulmonary Specialist and been a professor
on the staff of Emory University Medical School. Over the past
ten years he has become fascinated by the new specialty of Sleep
Medicine. He is an author of an upcoming novel on huge human problems
arising from sleep apnea.)
APRIL 5, 2005 -- Anthony Burgess, author of "A Clockwork
Orange," wrote that snorers sleep alone. Today, Burgess
could only call the nightmare of sleepy drivers a "real horror
show," and remind us that "every dogma has its day."
Eye-popping studies released by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF)
this week shows sleep disorders contribute to dozens of major diseases.
Half of Americans are so sleepy that their work, their relationships
and happiness are impaired. Sleep disorders have been found to cause
more traffic accidents than alcohol.
Murtagh |
NSF designated March 28 through April 3 as the eighth annual national
sleep awareness week. As we wound our clocks forward for daylight
savings on April 3, it is time for patients, doctors and lawmakers
to take stock. Neither patients nor doctors can now ignore the sleeping
elephant.
Is it an exaggeration to say our society faces a crisis in sleep
disorders? The father of modern sleep medicine, Dr. William Dement
writes: "Sleep disorders ..are so pervasive and the consequences
are potentially so dire as to constitute a national emergency".
Dement indicates that many of national major disasters, including
the Exxon Valdez and Challenger, can be traced to sleep disorders.
The average sleep-apnea-induced truck disaster kills 4.2 persons.
Friends cannot allow friends to drive sleepy.
Consider: Sleep apnea is just one of 88 recognized sleep disorders
affecting persons of all age groups. Sleep disorders are major,
reversible and unrecognized causes of mortality and morbidity:
- More than 40 million Americans suffer with sleep disorders.
- More than 95 percent of sleep patients are not treated.
- Almost all sleep disorders can be treated, with immensely improved
quality of life, productivity and life expectancy.
- Millions are too sleepy even to have satisfying sex.
- Proper treatment of sleep disorders can result in improved happiness,
improved sex life, and loss of weight, and overall improved efficiency
and energy.
- Minorities, the poor, the chronically ill, the unemployed and
the elderly are at special risk.
- Direct medical costs of sleep disorders account for more than
$30 billion.
- Lost productivity of sleep deprivation costs $50-100 billion.
- Sleep Apnea is a major cause of many common conditions, such
as hypertension, stroke and sudden death.
- Drowsiness is a major threat to military readiness.
What can you do? There are seven simple questions your can assess
your risk of sleep disorder. Take the simple test at http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/epworth.html.
What could be a better use of a few minutes of your time? These
few questions can tell you if you need attention from a sleep specialist.
"We are such stuff/ As dreams are made on, and our little
life/ Is rounded with a sleep." Shakespeare wrote. How true!
As you wind your clock forward, take care to avoid the Clockwork
Orange horror show of sleep deprivation. Take the simple screening
test. The life you save may be your own, or it may be a loved one.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Tweedledee,
Tweedledum; the legislative session is over!
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 5, 2005 -- What can we learn from the 2005 session of the
Georgia Legislature? Mainly one lesson: there is not much difference
in parties, no matter who is in power.
After ages and ages of being the minority party in the Georgia
Legislature, year 2005 gave the Republicans a chance to dictate
the rules. And dictate they did, pushing their agenda, keeping the
hated Democrats at bay, and in general, being full of themselves.
Yes, they reminded us much of….of all people….the Democrats
when they were in power. For both parties act, as Shakespeare, who
wrote in Macbeth, in a manner "of sound and fury, signifying
nothing."
This time the Republicans are even trying to boast that they did
it all much more efficiently then ever before when run by Democrats.
By that, they mean that they officially met for only 39 days, instead
of the limit of 40, which has been the case in the past. The fallacy
of this argument is that both parties do not actually meet for a
consecutive number of days, but officially meet here and there at
will, though they have committee meetings on days they are "not
meeting." So this argument of "efficiency" by the
Republicans is pretty silly.
The Republicans in general tried to deliver on their big promises
to their contributors, helping big business, medical doctors and
insurance firms. Of course, they also say this "helps taxpayers,"
the same phrase the Democrats use when they extol their efforts.
All this makes you scratch your head and wonder if you are seeing
anything different. You ask yourself over and over "Is there
really much of a difference between Georgia Democrats and Republicans,
since they both really look out more for their big contributors
than the people?
A big effort on the part of the Republicans was their push to increase
secrecy, and reduce openness, in government. Suddenly people across
Georgia were up in arms, questioning if such a maneuver was in the
best interest of the state. Some of the proposed efforts to cut
back openness in government were passed, some were stymied.
The ironic aspect is that the Republicans could have gone through
the session of the Legislature raising these questions. There was
no group calling for a reduction in openness in government. By introducing
it, the Republicans focused a lot of attention on the negative aspect
of this legislation, and stirred up a hornet's nest.
So, why? Why did they push for such limits on openness, and even
lose a few key votes?
Perhaps there was another aspect. Perhaps the Republicans, being
very canny, wanted to have a big discussion on openness in government,
in order to shield debate on key issues? Are Republicans that sinister?
We don't think so. Yet that is the only reason we can see that the
Republicans would have for trying to pass significant measure to
reduce openness in government.
In general, the Legislature, by law, has to meet. The back side
is that we, the people must endure their meeting. When the Legislature
is over, we are relieved.
The GOP missed their big chance to show a real difference in the
way they directed the Legislature. Their leadership shows little
difference from their predecessor. From that, the Republicans ought
to be worried; meanwhile, about the best the Democrats can do is
gloat that a Legislature run Republicans is no better.
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FEEDBACK
4/5: Sees several ramifications coming out
of Schiavo case
Editor, the Forum:
Great column and great questions from Dr. Muyskens that should simulate
much discussion. Personally I thought the Terri Schiavo situation
was more about a family disagreement and a litigious society, than
it was about medical ethics. It reaffirmed for me the following:
1. Randall Terry, the family "spiritual" advisers and
the other extremists on the right to life side of the argument,
have little or no compassion for individuals and are only interested
in promoting themselves and their positions. They are no different
than the extremists on the other side of the issue.
2. The Rev. Jesse Jackson's continued pandering to the media only
re-emphasizes how irrelevant he has become.
3. Governor Bush, President Bush, Tom DeLay, Ted Kennedy, Nancy
Pelosi and all the other politicians involved, will say or do whatever,
if they sense it will get them another vote.
If there is any good to come out of this excruciating ordeal it
is that it has raised the general public's awareness of the importance
of a living will and the need to make our end of life wishes known
to our entire families. For that we can all be grateful to Terri
Schiavo and hope that she has now found peace.
-- Patrick Malone, Snellville
4/5: Says article
enhances comfort level with our government
Editor, the Forum:
Elliott Brack has written the most perceptive article (Column,
3/29) I have seen in which he explained how the Schiavo
case had demonstrated the power of the judiciary. Ellliott's piece
enhanced my comfort level with our form of government.
-- Bob Campbell, Asheville, N.C.
(Editor's Note: Mr. Campbell is former editor
of The Times in Gainesville.-eeb)
NOTABLE
Duluth student wins Rotary study this summer
in Oslo
A student from Duluth is among three University of Georgia Honors
Program students who recently were awarded scholarships through
the Georgia Rotary Student Program to study this summer at the University
of Oslo in Norway.
The students include Michael Davis, a second-year student from
Duluth majoring in history. He is the president of the Franklin
Residential College (FRC) and has been an active member of the FRC
since his first year. He is a graduate of Duluth High.
Other students winning this award Sonia Dowla, a fourth-year student
from Stone Mountain, and Jamie Peper, a second-year student from
Savannah.
The Norwegian Rotary Advisory Board invites three students from
Georgia to participate in this summer program Each of the three
Rotary districts in Georgia named one recipient.
CALENDAR
Deadline approaching for homeowner value offset
exemption
Gwinnett County property owners, who own and occupy their home
on Jan. 1, 2005, may apply for homestead exemptions with the Office
of the Tax Commissioner's Department of Property Tax between Jan.
1 and May 1, 2005. Property owners, already receiving an exemption
and have had no ownership changes to their deed, do not need to
reapply and will continue to receive their current exemption from
property taxes.
The Gwinnett County Value Offset Exemption is also available for
homeowners. This exemption "freezes" the County assessed
value of your home for as long as you own it. The Value Offset Exemption
does not affect the city, state or school portion of your taxes.
The Value Offset Exemption is in addition to any other homestead
exemption you may be receiving. The homestead exemption application
will be used to qualify you for the regular homestead exemption
as well as the County Value Offset Exemption. Those currently receiving
this exemption do not have to reapply unless the owner is correcting
the spelling, deleting or adding a person's name to the warranty
deed.
Gwinnett County offers special homestead exemptions to eligible
property owners, disabled and senior citizens. Special exemptions
are based on age, disability, and/or income. If you feel that you
may qualify for a special exemption, please contact our customer
service representatives at (770) 822-8800. Since many of the special
exemptions have income limitations, a copy of the individual's Federal
and State Income Tax Returns for 2004 should accompany the application
for a special exemption.
Savory Sounds of Duluth
April 16 to help pay for band uniforms
For the first time in 15 years, the Duluth High School Marching
Band has new uniforms. Because of decreasing funds from the county,
plus a steadily increasing band population, the Band Booster Association
stepped forward to purchase the uniforms for the students.
To help defray the cost of the new uniforms and other band expenses,
the Association is hosting the first annual "Savory Sounds
of Duluth," a food tasting event with both a silent and a live
auction. This party will be held on Saturday, April 16, from 6:30
to 10 p.m. in downtown Duluth. Duluth Rep. Brooks Coleman (and the
40 year voice of the Duluth Wildcats) will be the auctioneer, along
with his partner, Bill Russell, for this lively evening.
Tickets to this event can be purchased by contacting President
Dan Miller at danmiller@speedfactory.net. Contributions for the
evening are tax deductible.
For additional information, contact Marsha Anderson Bomar by email
(marsha@streetsmarts.us)
or telephone (678-480-3801).
Tribble Trot 5K race
coming up on Saturday, April 23
Sign up now for the third annual Tribble Trot 5K Race sponsored
by Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Department. Run a 3.1-mile
paved course that winds through the wooded terrain of Tribble Mill
Park in Grayson. The race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 23
at Tribble Mill Park, off New Hope Road near Grayson.
Call (770) 932-4460 to get a registration form, or pick one up
at the following walk-in locations: Bogan Community Center, Gwinnett
Senior Center at Bethesda Park, Lenora Park Gymnasium, Pinckneyville
Community Center, or the Rhodes Jordan Community Center.
The pre-registration entry fee for the 5K Run is $15 and includes
a t-shirt. Race-day registration fee is $20 per person, and will
begin at 7:15 a.m. the morning of the race. Ages 8 and up. For more
information call (770) 932-4460 or visit www.gwinnettparks.com.
RECOMMENDED
READ
- An invitation: What Web sites or books have you enjoyed?
Send us your best recent read along with a short paragraph as
to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
4/5: Bethesda Orphanage
near Savannah has storied past
Bethesda, or "House of Mercy," was the name given to
the orphanage founded near Savannah by the evangelist George Whitefield
in 1740. No formal provision was made for the significant number
of orphan children living in Georgia in the 1730s, and shortly after
Whitefield arrived in Georgia in 1738, he determined to raise funds
for an orphanage. By 1740 a site had been selected a few miles south
of Savannah, some buildings had been erected, and the first children
had taken up residence.
Whitefield |
Whitefield's attitudes toward the children in his care were shaped
by his belief that all children were inherently willful and therefore
wicked. The regime at the orphanage was meant to instill discipline
in the children and to reform them into useful and pious citizens.
Whitefield died in 1770 and left Bethesda to the countess of Huntingdon,
who had sponsored some of his preaching activities in England. The
countess tried to continue Whitefield's work, sending teachers and
missionaries to Bethesda to care for the orphans, but a devastating
fire in 1773 destroyed the main orphan house. On the countess's
death in 1791, the state of Georgia assumed control of Bethesda
and appointed trustees to manage it. Just when Bethesda's situation
was improving, the site was again ravaged by fire in 1805. The trust
was eventually dissolved in 1808, and the land on which Bethesda
had been built was sold.
In 1855 the Union Society, a charitable organization that had been
closely associated with Bethesda since 1750, purchased the old site
and resolved to rebuild the orphan house. Bethesda has offered residential
care to orphan boys ever since, fulfilling its original mission.
A school has periodically operated at the site, and the orphan house
now has many alumni who otherwise might have lived in poverty all
their lives.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Making mistakes is
human; what you do with it matters
"To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to
be able to laugh at yourself is maturity."
-- Author William Arthur Ward, via Roy McCreary, Dacula.
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