Philips celebrates World Sleep Day to raise awareness of the benefits of good sleep

ANDOVER, Mass., March 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of World Sleep Day, Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced its Sleep Powers initiative for 2014, aimed at encouraging increased awareness of and education around the benefits of sleep and the important role it plays in powering everything that we do.

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"Sleeping well is essential to good health and loss of quality of sleep can lead to numerous health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and diabetes," said says Teofilo Lee Chiong, M.D., Chief Medical Liaison, Philips Home Healthcare Solutions. "The Sleep Powers initiative aims to draw more attention to the importance of a good night's sleep and encourages better sleep as a part of a healthy lifestyle."

In addition, Philips has launched the Sleep Power Quotient quiz, which will grade a person's quality of sleep based on their answers to simple sleep habit and health questions. Upon completion of the Sleep Power Quotient quiz, any individuals with results that point to poor sleep habits will then be invited to take an online risk assessment test to determine their risk level for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), one of the most common sleep disorders, currently estimated to affect 100 million people worldwide. Those at high risk for OSA will be directed to follow up with their health care provider.

In 2013, Philips announced its pledge to screen one million people for OSA over a period of five years in an effort to help OSA sufferers identify and combat the disorder. The company's 2014 campaign for sleep awareness – including a new visual OSA guide and 7 Tips to A More Restful & Refreshed You – shows Philips' continued dedication to improving the lives of patients suffering from OSA or other serious sleep disorders and highlights how sleep powers all of our daily activities.

"It surprises me that with all the talk about sleep, we're still seeing a lack of awareness by the public and health care professionals around OSA and the significant consequences of this serious sleep disorder," said Mark Aloia, senior director of global clinical research for Philips Healthcare. "We're looking to beat the statistics and create broader understanding of all that sleep can do to help improve overall population health."

An annual event intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, World Sleep Day is organized by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM). WASM aims to advance sleep health worldwide by promoting and encouraging education and research around the World, particularly in areas where the practice of sleep medicine is less developed. This year's World Sleep Day highlights "Restful Sleep, Easy Breathing, Healthy Body," through the promotion of healthy sleep for people of all ages.

For more information about World Sleep Day 2014 and how Philips is observing the day in your local area, visit www.philips.com/worldsleepday or follow the World Sleep Day 2014 conversation on:

• Twitter: @PhilipsHealth and @PhilipsResp
• Facebook: Philips Healthcare and Philips Respironics
• Instagram: Philips Healthcare

About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 115,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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Related Links:
Philips World Sleep Day Microsite 
Philips World Sleep Day Resources

Contact:
Alicia Cafardi
Philips Healthcare Communications
Home Healthcare Solutions
Tel: +1 (0) 724-387-4439
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Royal Philips