TITLE: Recognizing May 2011 as Fight Arthritis Pain Month in Texas.

SUMMARY: Recognizing May 2011 as Fight Arthritis Pain Month in Texas.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States; and WHEREAS, In Texas, nearly a quarter of all adults suffer from arthritis, a condition that is color-blind and indifferent to income or socioeconomic status; if the more than 4.1 million Texan adults who have arthritis were to form a city, its population would be about the size of Austin, Houston, and San Antonio combined; and WHEREAS, Typically assumed to affect only older adults, arthritis is found in people of all ages, and more than 300,000 children in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis; at particular risk are women, African Americans, and whites, while those who make less than $25,000 per year also report higher rates of the disease; and WHEREAS, Nearly half of the Texans who have arthritis suffer limitations severe enough to interfere with daily life; symptoms of arthritis include pain, swelling, and stiffness, and arthritis puts people at greater risk for serious additional health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and depression; and WHEREAS, Affecting the quality of life of families and caregivers as well as individual sufferers, arthritis is also expensive, costing the citizens of Texas an estimated $8.7 billion per year; with the aging of America's population, the prevalence of arthritis is expected to increase, but the Texas chapter of the Arthritis Foundation is funding vital research, providing public health education, and conducting research to seek improved treatment options; and WHEREAS, The well-being of Texas residents is an issue of paramount importance, and Fight Arthritis Pain Month serves as a significant reminder of the importance of working to enhance the quality of life for those living with arthritis; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby recognize May 2011 as Fight Arthritis Pain Month in Texas and urge all Texans to learn more about arthritis and the needs of people who have arthritis. Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 748 was adopted by the House on March 31, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House