A RESOLUTION to commemorate Myositis Awareness Month, May 2025.
By designating May 2025 as Myositis Awareness Month, SJR0316 aims to increase public awareness of myositis and improve recognition of the disease within healthcare systems. The resolution underscores the necessity of expert healthcare providers in identifying and treating myositis, which is often difficult to diagnose, leading to delayed treatment and exacerbated health outcomes for patients. Furthermore, by promoting awareness, the resolution supports the work of The Myositis Association (TMA), which plays a critical role in patient advocacy and education regarding myositis.
SJR0316 is a Senate Joint Resolution aimed at commemorating Myositis Awareness Month in May 2025 in Tennessee. The resolution acknowledges the impact of myositis and other rare diseases on residents of Tennessee, noting that nearly 10% of Americans are affected by rare diseases. Myositis is described as a group of chronic, autoimmune muscle-wasting diseases that cause significant health challenges, including debilitating muscle inflammation, pain, fatigue, and difficulties in swallowing. The resolution emphasizes the need for enhanced research to identify treatments and causes related to various types of myositis, which include conditions such as dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
While the resolution does not appear to face significant opposition, it does highlight underlying health disparities faced by women and people of color suffering from myositis. By calling attention to these disparities, the resolution implies a need for targeted research and resource allocation to address the particular challenges that these groups encounter. The resolution serves to unify efforts for better patient outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with myositis throughout Tennessee.