The Mid-term Board meeting was a wonderful experience. Nashville is a  beautiful city and Harriett Howard and  her crew treated us like royalty. All the  wonderful women in WAVES National  always impress me and it is a delight to be  part of this great organization 
 

VETERANS AFFAIRS 
VA MEDICAL/HEALTH: 
Violet Strom-Kloth 
Does enough oxygen travel to your  brain while you are sleeping? Each of us  expects and deserves a good night’s sleep.  But for many, sleeping is a struggle.  They—and approximately 18 million  other Americans—suffer from a common,  but often undiagnosed, sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea  (OSA). Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a life  threatening and life altering condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly  during sleep. As a result, the body  doesn’t get enough oxygen. 

The most common sign of OSA is  snoring, interrupted by pauses in breathing.  This interrupted breathing pattern  interferes with restful sleep. The lack of  sleep affects daytime alertness and one’s  ability to function well throughout the day. Ultimately, OSA takes its toll on an  individual’s quality of life. The bed partner’s  sleep may also be disrupted by his or  her partner’s snoring, pauses in breathing  and restless sleep. 

The good news is that OSA is treatable,  and there is relief.

 A person stops breathing during sleep because his or her airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs.  Several factors that can contribute are:
• Extra tissue in the back of the throat, such as large tonsils or uvula. 
• A decrease in the tone of the muscles  holding the airway open.
• Nasal obstruction 
• Certain jaw or facial structures or attributes, such as recessed chin. 

Additional symptoms include morning  headaches, difficulty concentrating, depression, irritability, memory loss and sexual dysfunction. Most OSA sufferers remain undiagnosed and untreated.  Those who do not seek diagnosis and effective treatment can be at increased risk for: 
• High blood pressure 
• Heart disease 
• Heart attack 
• Stroke 
• Fatigue-related motor vehicle and work accidents 
• Decreased quality of life 
All of the things we guard against as we age! 

Treatments are available for OSA. The most common is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) pronounced see- PAP. CPAP equipment treats OSA by providing a gentle flow of positive-pressure air through a nasal mask to keep the airway open during sleep. With therapy, breathing becomes regular and snoring  stops, oxygen level in the blood becomes normal, restful sleep is restored, and the quality of life is improved. 

For further information contact the Department of Veterans Affairs Telephone Assistance Service at 1-800-827-1000 or visit their website at www.va.gov.
 

VOLUNTEER SERVICES: 
Dewann Beatson 
I'm not sure why some units did not 
report. Each unit member should keep track of her hours. I noticed that reporting units did not always list duties for WN. Work on Committees, Pres, treas-sec you all spend time doing unit work. The August White Caps showed an example of how some members would  report time on telephone tree. Some units 

use the tree to keep in touch with homebound. Use a personal calendar to record your volunteer hours daily. Then you can easily fill out the form to report those hours. If your report arrived after July 30 it will be included in next year. Reports are due once a year - June 15th.
 

TIME & PLACE CHAIRMAN 
Frona Liston 
In less than a year, a vote will be 
taken at the 2004 WN Convention in Philadelphia to determine the site of the 2006 WN Convention. If your unit or region is even ‘considering’ placing a 2006 bid, please let me know. My phone number, e-mail address and street address are on Page 2. 
 

HEARTSPRING PROJECT 
Jane McCauley 
I have just received word from 
HEARTSPRING that they will NO 
LONGER ACCEPT Campbell Soup 
labels or it’s by products, which our members have so diligently supported through the years. As of May 31, 2003 the program will continue to participate ONLY in the General Mills Box Tops for Education and the Tyson’s Project A+ Program. These are exchanged into monetary support for the school. I am happy that we have sent 196,933 labels this year, however, it is small compared to 310,000 last year. I was notified that they were able to purchase 4 color TV/VCR combos and 7 VCRs for the classrooms and homes this year. They encourage our members to continue to collect the labels for your local schools or needed organizations. 

WHITE CAPS EDITOR 
Ida Duffy 
Had a great time at the Mid-term 
meeting in Nashville! And a visit to our nation’s capitol was eye opening! Much has changed there since 9-11. Don’t forget to send me your items for December’s issue by November 1st!