PRINTER'S NO. 2352
No. 256 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY RAYMOND, ADOLPH, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BARRAR, BEBKO-
JONES, BELARDI, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, L. I. COHEN, CORRIGAN,
DEMPSEY, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FARGO,
FICHTER, FORCIER, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GRUCELA,
HERSHEY, HORSEY, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LESCOVITZ,
LUCYK, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, MASLAND, McCALL, McNAUGHTON,
MICOZZIE, MUNDY, NAILOR, ORIE, PESCI, PETRONE, PIPPY,
PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROHRER, ROONEY, ROSS, RUBLEY,
SANTONI, SATHER, SCHRODER, SEYFERT, SHANER, B. SMITH,
STABACK, J. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, VAN HORNE,
WALKO, WILLIAMS, WILT, WOJNAROSKI, ZUG, RAMOS, YOUNGBLOOD,
TRUE, ARGALL, SEMMEL, MYERS, KENNEY, HENNESSEY, BENNINGHOFF
AND HARHAI, OCTOBER 4, 1999
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 4, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of December 1999 as "Rheumatoid Arthritis
2 Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Rheumatoid arthritis is a common form of arthritis
4 that causes chronic inflammation in the lining of the joints and
5 other areas of the body; and
6 WHEREAS, The potential for rapid progression to multiple
7 joint involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
8 underscores the importance of early diagnosis and risk
9 stratification; and
10 WHEREAS, Arthritis is a public health threat that affects
11 nearly one of every six Americans, making it one of the most
12 common diseases in the United States; and
1 WHEREAS, Of the 100 forms of arthritis that exist, rheumatoid
2 arthritis is the most disabling; and
3 WHEREAS, Even with appropriate drug therapy, up to 7% of
4 patients afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis are disabled to
5 some extent within five years after the onset of the disease and
6 50% are too disabled to work within ten years after the onset of
7 the disease; and
8 WHEREAS, Due to the fact that there is no known cure, the
9 goal in treating rheumatoid arthritis optimally involves a
10 combination of patient education, rest, joint-strengthening
11 exercises, medications to reduce joint inflammation and pain, as
12 well as treatment to prevent joint destruction and deformity;
13 therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
15 month of December 1999 as "Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Month"
16 in Pennsylvania and urge the residents of this Commonwealth to
17 be aware of the seriousness of this disease and seek appropriate
18 treatment to minimize its impact on their lives.
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