Recognizing the increased risk of sleep apnea among soldiers returning from active duty and the benefits of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in soldiers suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Bill: 115-hres-46
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6]
Introduced: 2017-01-12
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Health promotion and preventive care

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Neurological disorders

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Expresses support for raising public awareness of sleep apnea, especially for soldiers and veterans, and providing access to care for soldiers and veterans with sleep illnesses.</p> Encourages soldiers and veterans to seek and maintain healthy sleep habits.

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 46 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 12, 2017 Mr. Graves of Missouri (for himself and Mr. Walz ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services , and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing the increased risk of sleep apnea among soldiers returning from active duty and the benefits of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in soldiers suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Whereas 12,000,000 to 18,000,000 people in the United States remain untreated for (OSA); Whereas untreated OSA can lead to heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and depression; Whereas 54 percent of the patients with PTSD who underwent sleep studies at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center were diagnosed with OSA; Whereas 20 percent of soldiers will develop sleep apnea in their lifetime; Whereas soldiers are 4 times more likely to develop sleep apnea than non-veteran civilians; Whereas studies show that 37 percent of soldiers showing symptoms for PTSD also report symptoms of insufficient sleep; Whereas veterans suffering from PTSD experience fewer nightmares when their OSA is treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy; and Whereas the lack of public awareness of the disease, poor sleep habits during active duty, and the effects of PTSD among veterans that lead to poor sleep leads to many undiagnosed, untreated, and severe cases: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports raising public awareness of sleep apnea, especially for United States soldiers and veterans; (2) supports providing access to care for soldiers and veterans with sleep illnesses such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); (3) encourages all United States soldiers and veterans to seek and maintain healthy sleep habits both during and after active duty; and (4) further explores continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as a viable treatment for OSA in patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).