PRINTER'S NO. 1844
No. 185 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, BOSCOLA, BRIGHTBILL, CONTI, COSTA, EARLL,
ERICKSON, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KITCHEN, KUKOVICH, LAVALLE,
LOGAN, MURPHY, MUSTO, O'PAKE, ORIE, RHOADES, ROBBINS,
SCARNATI, TOMLINSON, WENGER, C. WILLIAMS, BODACK, DENT,
LEMMOND, SCHWARTZ, TARTAGLIONE, THOMPSON AND WAGNER,
MARCH 26, 2002
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 26, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2002 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 43 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 an
15 estimated $82.5 billion per year in medical care and lost wages;
16 and
1 WHEREAS, The specific causes of arthritis are not yet known
2 for most forms of the disease, but there are many things that
3 can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, The key to reducing the impact of arthritis is early
6 diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each
7 individual; and
8 WHEREAS, Most treatment programs include a combination of
9 medication, exercise, rest, use of heat and cold, joint
10 protection techniques and sometimes surgery; therefore be it
11 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate May 2002 as "Arthritis
12 Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge residents of this
13 Commonwealth to be aware of the seriousness of this disease and
14 to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its impact on their
15 lives.
C6L82JS/20020S0185R1844 - 2 -