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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, |
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and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to promote better |
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understanding of this health issue and to foster increased support |
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for targeted research; and |
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WHEREAS, "Pulmonary fibrosis" is a term used to describe more |
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than 200 different diseases that involve scar tissue in the lungs; |
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as the scarring destroys the normal lung tissue, it becomes more |
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difficult for oxygen to enter the bloodstream, and this leads to |
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symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, loss of appetite, |
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and fatigue and weakness; and |
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WHEREAS, Multiple causes of the scarring have been |
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identified, including some medications, radiation, environmental |
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triggers, autoimmune diseases, and exposure to harmful inorganic |
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dusts; in cases where a cause cannot be determined, patients are |
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diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; researchers estimate |
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that, in the United States, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis affects 1 |
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out of every 200 adults over the age of 60, and as many as 40,000 |
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Americans die from the disease each year; and |
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WHEREAS, While there is not yet a cure for pulmonary |
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fibrosis, a number of treatments are available to help alleviate |
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symptoms and slow the progression of the disease; depending on each |
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patient's unique experience with the condition, doctors may |
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recommend medications, oxygen therapy, exercise, and in rare |
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circumstances, lung transplantation; and |
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WHEREAS, Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious and |
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life-threatening disease, and the observance of Pulmonary Fibrosis |
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Awareness Month unites people around the world in their commitment |
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to support the search for a cure and improve the quality of life for |
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patients; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize September 2022 as Pulmonary Fibrosis |
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Awareness Month and urge all Texans to learn more about the disease. |