PRINTER'S NO. 1410
No. 252 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY COSTA, BARRAR, BEYER, BIANCUCCI, BISHOP, CLYMER,
COX, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS,
FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS,
GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARRIS, HENNESSEY,
HERSHEY, HICKERNELL, JAMES, KENNEY, KILLION, KOTIK, KULA,
MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN,
MILLARD, MOYER, MUSTIO, MYERS, NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE,
PARKER, PAYNE, PETRONE, PHILLIPS, PYLE, RAMALEY, RAPP,
READSHAW, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO,
SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, R. STEVENSON, R. TAYLOR,
THOMAS, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, J. WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, GILLESPIE
AND MILNE, APRIL 24, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 24, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of May 13 through 19, 2007, as
2 "Fibromyalgia Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, An estimated 10 million people in the United States
4 have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia; and
5 WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is caused by a chemical imbalance in
6 the brain and is associated with other central nervous system
7 abnormalities; and
8 WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease for which there is
9 no cure; and
10 WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia affects people of all ages, races and
11 socioeconomic backgrounds; and
12 WHEREAS, Diagnoses are made, on average, ten years after
1 onset; and
2 WHEREAS, Persons with fibromyalgia live with widespread pain
3 often described as burning, gnawing or aching; and
4 WHEREAS, Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, sleep
5 disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder syndrome,
6 chronic migraines, chest pain, morning stiffness and muscle
7 weakness; and
8 WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia affects coordination, short-term memory
9 and cognitive function and causes mood swings, depression and
10 anxiety; and
11 WHEREAS, Health care costs for fibromyalgia and related
12 socioeconomic costs are an estimated $20 billion per year in the
13 United States; and
14 WHEREAS, Persons with fibromyalgia take at least three drugs
15 daily, at an average cost of $2,300 per year, to control
16 symptoms; and
17 WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia can be as disabling as rheumatoid
18 arthritis: 30% of persons with fibromyalgia cannot work, and 26%
19 of those persons receive Social Security disability benefits;
20 and
21 WHEREAS, Workplace adaptations can alleviate symptom
22 aggravators for some affected individuals; and
23 WHEREAS, The National Fibromyalgia Association and other
24 fibromyalgia support organizations join in promoting public
25 awareness relating to education, diagnosis, research and
26 treatment; therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
28 week of May 13 through 19, 2007, as "Fibromyalgia Awareness
29 Week" in Pennsylvania and urge support for affected individuals
30 and research for a cure.
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