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
P2 1WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect
2any part of the body, including internal organs, the skin, and joints.
3The disease also has many different symptoms and, because of
4that, affects each person differently. Because of its unpredictable
5nature, people with lupus often have many questions about the
6disease; and
7WHEREAS, Each person with lupus has different symptoms
8that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over
9time. Lupus is not to be taken lightly; it can affect many parts of
10the body, including, but not limited to, the kidneys, lungs, central
11nervous system, blood vessels, blood, heart, and skin; and
12WHEREAS, The State Department ofbegin delete Health Care Servicesend delete
13begin insert Public Healthend insert concluded in its 2008 Lupus Data/Statistics report
14that death rates from lupus increased nearly 70 percent among
15black women between 45 and 64 years of age. Possible reasons
16include an increasing incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus,
17later diagnosis, less access to health care, less-effective treatments,
18and poorer compliance with treatment recommendations. Each
19year during the study period, death rates were more than five times
20higher for women than for men; and
21WHEREAS, Existing public information and programs about
22lupus in California remain inadequately disseminated and
23insufficient in addressing the needs of specific diverse populations
24and other underserved groups; and
25WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health care community
26throughout the state about this devastating disease is of paramount
27importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the
28benefit of all residents of the State of California; and
29WHEREAS, Many other organizations strive to educate the
30community about lupus and how to manage the disease and also
31to bring more awareness through advocacy and education while
32providing support and resources to families that are affected by
33the disease; and
34WHEREAS, Advocates around the country have joined together
35to advocate for lupus awareness, support, and a better future
36through research, diagnosis, education, and treatment; now,
37therefore, be it
38Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
39Assembly observes the month of May 2016 as Lupus Awareness
40Month; and be it further
P3 1Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
2of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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