P1 1WHEREAS, Lupus is a disease that affects more people than
2AIDS, cerebral palsy, sickle cell anemia, and multiple sclerosis
3combined. One of out every 185 Americans has lupus. Lupus is
4hard to diagnose, mimics other diseases, and its sufferers usually
5do not get treatment until they have suffered with the symptoms
6for many years; and
7WHEREAS, Lupus affects approximately 1.4 million Americans,
890 percent of people diagnosed with the disease are women, 80
9percent develop the disease between 15 and 45 years of age, and
10the disease is two to three times more prevalent among people of
11color, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native
12Americans; and
13WHEREAS, Understanding lupus will help us better understand
14infections in general, allergies, cancer, and even AIDS. Medical
15students are often told if they know lupus then they know medicine;
16lupus is the paradigm of autoimmunity, as lupus can affect every
17part of the body; and
18WHEREAS, At least nine states have declared the month of
19May as Lupus Awareness Month -- California, Colorado,
20Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon,
21Virginia, and Wisconsin; and
22WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect
23any part of the body, including internal organs, the skin, and joints.
24The disease also has many different symptoms and, because of
P2 1that, affects each person differently. Because of its unpredictable
2nature, people with lupus often have many questions about the
3disease; and
4WHEREAS, Each person with lupus has different symptoms
5that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over
6time. Lupus is not to be taken lightly; it can affect many parts of
7the body, including, but not limited to, the kidneys, lungs, central
8nervous system, blood vessels, blood, heart, and skin; and
9WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Care Services
10concluded in its 2008 Lupus Data/Statistics report that death rates
11from lupus increased nearly 70 percent among black women
12between 45 and 64 years of age. Possible reasons include an
13increasing incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus, later
14diagnosis, less access to health care, less-effective treatments, and
15poorer compliance with treatment recommendations. Each year
16during the study period, death rates were more than five times
17higher for women than for men; and
18WHEREAS, Existing public information and programs about
19lupus in California remain inadequately disseminated and
20insufficient in addressing the needs of specific diverse populations
21and other underserved groups; and
22WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health care community
23throughout the state about this devastating disease is of paramount
24importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the
25benefit of all residents of the State of California; and
26WHEREAS, Many other organizations strive to educate the
27community about lupus and how to manage the disease and also
28to bring more awareness through advocacy and education while
29providing support and resources to families that are affected by
30the disease; and
31WHEREAS, Advocates around the country have joined together
32to advocate for lupus awareness, support, and a better future
33through research, diagnosis, education, and treatment; now,
34therefore, be it
35Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
36Assembly observes the month of May 2016 as Lupus Awareness
37Month; and be it further
P3 1Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
2of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
99