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
P2 1the disease is two to three times more prevalent among people of
2color, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native
3Americans; and
4WHEREAS, Understanding lupus will help us better understand
5infections in general, allergies, cancer, and even AIDS. Medical
6students are often told if they know lupus then they know medicine;
7lupus is the paradigm of autoimmunity, as lupus can affect every
8part of the body; and
9WHEREAS, At least nine states have declared the month of
10May as Lupus Awareness Month -- California, Colorado,
11Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon,
12Virginia, and Wisconsin; and
13WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect
14any part of the body, including internal organs, the skin, and joints.
15The disease also has many different symptoms and, because of
16that, affects each person differently. Because of its unpredictable
17nature, people with lupus often have many questions about the
18disease; and
19WHEREAS, Each person with lupus has different symptoms
20that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over
21time. Lupus is not to be taken lightly; it can affect many parts of
22the body, including, but not limited to, the kidneys, lungs, central
23nervous system, blood vessels, blood, heart, and skin; and
24WHEREAS, The State Department of Public Health concluded
25in its 2008 Lupus Data/Statistics report that death rates from lupus
26increased nearly 70 percent among black women between 45 and
2764 years of age. Possible reasons include an increasing incidence
28of systemic lupus erythematosus, later diagnosis, less access to
29health care, less-effective treatments, and poorer compliance with
30treatment recommendations. Each year during the study period,
31death rates were more than five times higher for women than for
32men; and
33WHEREAS, Existing public information and programs about
34lupus in California remain inadequately disseminated and
35insufficient in addressing the needs of specific diverse populations
36and other underserved groups; and
37WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health care community
38throughout the state about this devastating disease is of paramount
39importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the
40benefit of all residents of the State of California; and
P3 1WHEREAS, Many other organizations strive to educate the
2community about lupus and how to manage the disease and also
3to bring more awareness through advocacy and education while
4providing support and resources to families that are affected by
5the disease; and
6WHEREAS, Advocates around the country have joined together
7to advocate for lupus awareness, support, and a better future
8through research, diagnosis, education, and treatment; now,
9therefore, be it
10Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
11Assembly observes the month of May 2016 as Lupus Awareness
12Month; and be it further
13Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
14of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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