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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of |
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irregular heartbeat, according to the Centers for Disease Control |
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and Prevention; and |
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WHEREAS, Approximately 95 percent of atrial fibrillation is |
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nonvalvular, and nonvalvular AF affects an estimated 5.8 million |
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people in the United States; the risk of stroke is five times |
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greater for these individuals, and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation |
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is estimated to cost $6.65 billion per year, primarily due to the |
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direct and indirect costs of hospitalization; and |
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WHEREAS, In both the United States and Texas, stroke was the |
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fourth leading cause of death as of 2012; it disproportionately |
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affects minorities, including African Americans, who are twice as |
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likely to die from stroke as Caucasians, and Hispanics, who have a |
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higher rate of hemorrhagic strokes at a younger age than |
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Caucasians; and |
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WHEREAS, Risk factors for atrial fibrillation include high |
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blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, advanced age, |
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hyperthyroidism, and heart disease; in addition, many modifiable |
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lifestyle behaviors can lead to a stroke, among them physical |
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inactivity, tobacco use, poor diet, and heavy alcohol consumption; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Atrial fibrillation is an extremely serious health |
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issue, but outcomes can be improved with heightened awareness of |
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the condition and effective measures for treatment and prevention; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the second week of May 2015 as Atrial |
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Fibrillation Week. |