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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an |
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umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including |
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emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory non-reversible asthma, |
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and some forms of bronchiectasis; and |
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WHEREAS, In people with COPD the airways and air sacs in the |
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lungs lose their elastic qualities and can not bounce back to their |
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original shape and then become swollen and thicker and in some cases |
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partially blocked or obstructed leading to difficulty breathing and |
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ultimately to the inability to breathe; and |
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WHEREAS, Smoking is the main risk factor for developing COPD |
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as well as second hand smoke exposure, occupational dust, chemical |
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exposure, air pollution and genetics are also common causes of |
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COPD; and |
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WHEREAS, Nationally the COPD Foundation reports that COPD is |
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responsible for direct and in-direct health care related costs |
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projected at $49.9 billion in 2010 and that 70% of those costs are |
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related to hospitalizations; and |
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WHEREAS, It is also estimated by the Agency for Healthcare |
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Research and Quality that one out of five individuals over forty in |
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the hospital have COPD; and |
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WHEREAS, In Texas the prevalence of COPD is 5.5% of the total |
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population and COPD affects individuals across all age groups but |
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at even higher rates for individuals aged 55-64 at 8.1% and |
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individuals 65 and over at a shocking 13.3%; and |
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WHEREAS, The American Association for Respiratory Care |
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reports that nationally just over half of all persons with COPD |
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report that their condition limits their ability to work and 34% say |
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that COPD keeps them from working; and |
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WHEREAS, There is no cure for COPD, and its lung damage is |
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irreversible, treatments can improve a patients quality of life by |
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reducing frequency and severity of exacerbations, prevent symptoms |
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from growing worse, and improving health status; and |
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WHEREAS, Treatments for COPD include stopping smoking, |
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removing air pollutants from home and work, and treating symptoms |
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with medication and pulmonary rehabilitation; and |
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WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
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reports that in 2011 "chronic lower respiratory diseases" which are |
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included with in the conditions under the umbrella term of COPD are |
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the third leading cause of death in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, That many individuals who experience shortness of |
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breath or other early symptoms of COPD mistake these symotoms as |
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being a part of the "normal aging process" and then wait to receive |
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treatments until the conditions are severe and the lung damage is |
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significantly more difficult to treat and manage; |
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WHEREAS, Concerted public outreach efforts such as a |
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DRIVE4COPD, the nation's largest public awareness and screening |
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campaign for COPD, and the NHLBI's COPD: Learn More Breathe Better |
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Campaign, can dramatically improve public awareness of COPD; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That The 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby recognize Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder as a |
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chronic health condition in Texas which contributes to increasing |
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health care costs and decreasing productivity of its citizens; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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directs the Texas Department of State Health Services to include |
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COPD as a chronic health condition in their efforts to address |
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serious and chronic health conditions in Texas by seeking out and |
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applying for funding and grants available to provide public |
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awareness or treatment for COPD in Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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directs the Texas Department of State Health Services to include |
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COPD as a chronic health condition in their current efforts to |
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educate the public about the effects of smoking or other |
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preventable and treatable chronic health conditions; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate November as COPD awareness Month; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED That in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.044(d), Government Code, the designation expires on the 10th |
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anniversary of the date this resolution is passed by the |
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legislature. |