PRINTER'S NO. 1879
No. 159 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, HUGHES, THOMPSON, WAGNER, COSTA,
TOMLINSON, HART, BRIGHTBILL, TILGHMAN, SALVATORE, EARLL,
DENT, LOEPER, GERLACH, ROBBINS, BELAN, SCHWARTZ, LEMMOND,
KASUNIC, KITCHEN, GREENLEAF, BOSCOLA, RHOADES AND O'PAKE,
APRIL 11, 2000
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 11, 2000
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2000 as "Arthritis Awareness Month"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases
4 that cause pain, swelling and limited movement in joints and
5 connective tissue throughout the body, the most prevalent forms
6 of which are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid
7 arthritis; and
8 WHEREAS, Nearly 42 million Americans, representing one in six
9 people, have arthritis and nearly two-thirds of those people are
10 women; and
11 WHEREAS, Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health
12 problems and the number one cause of limitation in movement in
13 the United States; and
14 WHEREAS, Arthritis costs the United States economy $65
15 billion per year in medical care and lost wages; and
16 WHEREAS, The specific causes of arthritis are not yet known
1 for most forms of the disease, but there are many things that
2 can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, The key to reducing the impact of arthritis is early
5 diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each
6 individual; and
7 WHEREAS, Most treatment programs include a combination of
8 medication, exercise, rest, use of heat and cold, joint
9 protection techniques and sometimes surgery; therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate May 2000 as "Arthritis
11 Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge residents of this
12 Commonwealth to be aware of the seriousness of this disease and
13 to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its impact on their
14 lives.
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