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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Health professionals, health advocates, stroke |
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survivors, and others are observing American Stroke Month in May |
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2007, and their efforts are drawing vital attention to this |
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cardiovascular disease that affects some 700,000 Americans each |
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year; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the American Stroke Association, a |
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division of the American Heart Association, stroke is the third |
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leading cause of death in this country, a trend reflected |
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statewide, according to the Texas Department of State Health |
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Services; moreover, it is the nation's leading cause of serious |
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long-term disability; while new and effective treatments have been |
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developed to minimize the severity of stroke, much more research is |
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needed; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its campaign, "Power to End Stroke," the ASA |
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is specifically reaching out to African Americans, who have almost |
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twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to Anglos, as well as |
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higher death rates; and |
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WHEREAS, Although risk factors for stroke such as age, |
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heredity, race, gender, and a history of prior stroke cannot be |
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changed, risk factors resulting from lifestyle or environment can |
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be; one of the most important controllable risk factors is high |
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blood pressure, often called the "silent killer" because it has no |
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symptoms; others that can be changed, treated, or controlled |
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include smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity and obesity, |
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carotid or other artery disease, atrial fibrillation, transient |
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ischemic attacks, certain blood disorders, high blood cholesterol, |
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excessive alcohol use, and illegal drug use; and |
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WHEREAS, Each minute a stroke goes untreated, the brain is at |
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risk for damage, but disability or death caused by stroke can be |
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prevented by recognizing and quickly responding to the following |
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warning signs: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, |
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especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble |
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speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both |
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eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or |
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coordination; and sudden, severe headache with no known cause; and |
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WHEREAS, By obtaining knowledge, making positive lifestyle |
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changes, and taking immediate action when necessary, individuals |
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have the power to avoid this debilitating disease and help their |
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loved ones do the same; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2007 as American Stroke Month and |
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encourage all Texans to familiarize themselves with the warning |
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signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with stroke. |