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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in |
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the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, In Texas, nearly a quarter of all adults suffer from |
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arthritis, a condition that is color-blind and indifferent to |
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income or socioeconomic status; if the more than 4.1 million Texan |
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adults who have arthritis were to form a city, its population would |
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be about the size of Austin, Houston, and San Antonio combined; and |
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WHEREAS, Typically assumed to affect only older adults, |
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arthritis is found in people of all ages, and more than 300,000 |
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children in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis; at |
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particular risk are women, African Americans, and whites, while |
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those who make less than $25,000 per year also report higher rates |
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of the disease; and |
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WHEREAS, Nearly half of the Texans who have arthritis suffer |
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limitations severe enough to interfere with daily life; symptoms of |
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arthritis include pain, swelling, and stiffness, and arthritis puts |
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people at greater risk for serious additional health problems such |
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as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and |
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depression; and |
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WHEREAS, Affecting the quality of life of families and |
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caregivers as well as individual sufferers, arthritis is also |
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expensive, costing the citizens of Texas an estimated $8.7 billion |
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per year; with the aging of America's population, the prevalence of |
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arthritis is expected to increase, but the Texas chapter of the |
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Arthritis Foundation is funding vital research, providing public |
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health education, and conducting research to seek improved |
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treatment options; and |
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WHEREAS, The well-being of Texas residents is an issue of |
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paramount importance, and Fight Arthritis Pain Month serves as a |
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significant reminder of the importance of working to enhance the |
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quality of life for those living with arthritis; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2011 as Fight Arthritis Pain Month |
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in Texas and urge all Texans to learn more about arthritis and the |
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needs of people who have arthritis. |
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Zerwas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 748 was adopted by the House on March |
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31, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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