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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month is an |
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| 6 | 7 | | international campaign held in September to help call attention to |
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| 7 | 8 | | this serious disease and to rally support for the search for a cure; |
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| 8 | 9 | | and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Pulmonary fibrosis refers to scarring of the lungs, |
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| 10 | 11 | | which over time can destroy lung tissue and lead to deteriorated |
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| 11 | 12 | | respiratory function; according to some estimates, the disease |
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| 12 | 13 | | affects 1 out of every 200 American adults over the age of 60, and |
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| 13 | 14 | | approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Researchers have identified a multitude of causes of |
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| 15 | 16 | | pulmonary fibrosis, including certain medications, radiation, |
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| 16 | 17 | | autoimmune diseases, environmental triggers, and exposure to |
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| 17 | 18 | | hazardous materials such as asbestos, silica, and coal dust; often, |
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| 18 | 19 | | the exact cause is difficult to determine, and most patients go on |
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| 19 | 20 | | to be diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or pulmonary |
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| 20 | 21 | | fibrosis of unknown origin; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, As the disease worsens, patients experience |
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| 22 | 23 | | shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, and other symptoms, which |
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| 23 | 24 | | may develop rapidly in some cases and progress more slowly over a |
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| 24 | 25 | | period of months or years in others; the lung damage caused by |
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| 25 | 26 | | pulmonary fibrosis cannot be reversed, but medications and |
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| 26 | 27 | | therapies can sometimes help ease symptoms and improve quality of |
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| 27 | 28 | | life; if symptoms are severe, sufferers may be candidates for a lung |
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| 28 | 29 | | transplant; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Public awareness plays an important role in |
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| 30 | 31 | | promoting research for pulmonary fibrosis and ensuring that every |
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| 31 | 32 | | patient receives a timely and accurate diagnosis, and Pulmonary |
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| 32 | 33 | | Fibrosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity for patients, |
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| 33 | 34 | | families, and advocates around the world to join together to help |
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| 34 | 35 | | make these goals a reality; now, therefore, be it |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 36 | 37 | | Legislature hereby recognize September 2019 as Pulmonary Fibrosis |
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| 37 | 38 | | Awareness Month and encourage all Texans to learn more about this |
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| 38 | 39 | | critical health issue. |
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