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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Neuropathy is one of the most common chronic |
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diseases in the United States today, affecting approximately 20 |
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million Americans, or one out of every 15 people, and an estimated |
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1.7 million Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, A disorder of the motor, sensory, and autonomic |
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nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin, and internal |
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organs, the condition disrupts the ability of these nerves to |
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communicate effectively, causing numbness, tingling, pain, |
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weakness, and loss of coordination; and |
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WHEREAS, There are over 100 known causes of neuropathy, |
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including diabetes, autoimmune disease, heredity, nutritional |
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imbalance, infections, and exposure to toxins; each cause is |
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associated with a particular set of symptoms, pattern of |
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development, prognosis, and treatment; and |
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WHEREAS, Diabetic neuropathy accounts for one-third of all |
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neuropathy cases and leads to more diabetes-related |
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hospitalizations than any other complication; some 64 percent of |
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diabetic neuropathy pain sufferers report that pain interferes with |
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their daily activities, and 80 percent of them report mobility |
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problems that make it difficult to exercise, a critical component |
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of diabetes management; and |
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WHEREAS, Persons suffering from neuropathy often feel alone |
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and isolated due to a lack of public understanding of their illness; |
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in addition to helping to relieve that burden, an increase in |
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community awareness of the nature of neuropathy can improve the |
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likelihood that those afflicted with the condition will get |
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appropriate treatment, including options to deal with the pain |
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associated with neuropathy, before suffering devastating |
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complications; public awareness efforts are necessary to inform |
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people of the steps to take to potentially delay the onset or slow |
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the progression of neuropathy; and |
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WHEREAS, The Neuropathy Association, the leading national |
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nonprofit organization serving the neuropathy community, provides |
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support and education, advocates for patient interests, and |
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promotes research into the causes of, and cures for, this |
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debilitating disease; the Texas chapter of the association, Hands |
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Feet & Heart, is also striving to further the organization's vital |
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work within the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Information is crucial to meeting the challenge of |
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neuropathy, and all Texans are encouraged to learn more about the |
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disorder's causes, symptoms, and management; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the third full week of May 2011 as |
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Neuropathy Awareness Week and call on public officials and private |
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citizens to observe this week with appropriate activities and |
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programs. |
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Howard of Travis |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1600 was adopted by the House on May |
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19, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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