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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 9, 2019 11:45 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert F. Matzie |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution - Rheumatoid Awareness Day in Pennsylvania – February 2, 2019 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as rheumatoid disease, is a progressive inflammatory disease causing damage to joint and organ tissues, resulting in severe pain, frequent disability, and increased mortality. Common symptoms of rheumatoid disease include joint pain, fatigue, fevers, stiffness, hoarseness and dry eyes. About 1.3 million Americans are currently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Awareness Day comes at the start of American Heart Month, underscoring the impact rheumatoid disease has on the heart prior to diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic states that rheumatoid arthritis patients have a 50 percent higher risk of heart attacks, twice the risk of heart failure and an increase in peripheral vascular disease than people who do not have rheumatoid arthritis. Patients are twice as likely to experience silent heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths. Please consider joining me in raising awareness of this disease by declaring February 2, 2019, as Rheumatoid Awareness Day in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HR42