| 1 | 1 | | 81R36382 CBE-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Zerwas H.R. No. 2818 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Health professionals, health advocates, stroke |
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| 7 | 7 | | survivors, and others are observing American Stroke Month in May |
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| 8 | 8 | | 2009, and their efforts are drawing vital attention to this |
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| 9 | 9 | | cardiovascular disease that affects nearly 800,000 Americans each |
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| 10 | 10 | | year; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, According to the American Stroke Association, a |
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| 12 | 12 | | division of the American Heart Association, stroke is the third |
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| 13 | 13 | | leading cause of death in this country, a trend reflected |
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| 14 | 14 | | statewide, according to the Texas Department of State Health |
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| 15 | 15 | | Services; moreover, it is a leading cause of serious long-term |
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| 16 | 16 | | disability; while new and effective treatments have been developed |
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| 17 | 17 | | to minimize the severity of stroke, much more research is needed; |
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| 18 | 18 | | and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Through its campaign, "Power to End Stroke," the ASA |
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| 20 | 20 | | is specifically reaching out to African Americans, who not only |
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| 21 | 21 | | have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to Anglos |
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| 22 | 22 | | but also higher death rates for stroke; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Although risk factors for stroke such as age, |
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| 24 | 24 | | heredity, race, gender, and a history of prior stroke cannot be |
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| 25 | 25 | | changed, those resulting from lifestyle or environment can be; one |
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| 26 | 26 | | of the most important controllable risk factors is high blood |
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| 27 | 27 | | pressure, often called the "silent killer" because it has no |
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| 28 | 28 | | symptoms; others that can be changed, treated, or controlled |
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| 29 | 29 | | include smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity and obesity, |
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| 30 | 30 | | carotid or other artery disease, atrial fibrillation, transient |
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| 31 | 31 | | ischemic attacks, certain blood disorders, high blood cholesterol, |
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| 32 | 32 | | excessive alcohol use, and illegal drug use; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Each minute a stroke goes untreated, the brain is at |
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| 34 | 34 | | risk for damage, but disability or death caused by stroke can be |
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| 35 | 35 | | prevented by recognizing and quickly responding to the following |
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| 36 | 36 | | warning signs: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, |
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| 37 | 37 | | especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble |
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| 38 | 38 | | speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both |
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| 39 | 39 | | eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or |
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| 40 | 40 | | coordination; and sudden, severe headache with no known cause; and |
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| 41 | 41 | | WHEREAS, By obtaining knowledge, making positive lifestyle |
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| 42 | 42 | | changes, and taking immediate action when necessary, individuals |
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| 43 | 43 | | can minimize their own risk of being afflicted by this debilitating |
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| 44 | 44 | | disease, and they can help their loved ones do the same; now, |
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| 45 | 45 | | therefore, be it |
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| 46 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 47 | 47 | | Legislature hereby recognize May 2009 as American Stroke Month and |
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| 48 | 48 | | encourage all Texans to familiarize themselves with the warning |
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| 49 | 49 | | signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with stroke. |
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