HR 16 — A Resolution designating February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   248

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 16
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, INGLIS, VENKAT, O'MARA, SCHLOSSBERG,
        D. WILLIAMS, FREEMAN, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, HANBIDGE, CEPEDA-
        FREYTIZ, McNEILL, HADDOCK, CERRATO, HOHENSTEIN, MERSKI,
        SANCHEZ, CONKLIN, PICKETT, REICHARD AND GREEN,
        JANUARY 23, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JANUARY 23, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in
 2      Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive inflammatory
 4   disease causing damage to joint and organ tissues, resulting in
 5   severe pain, frequent disability and increased mortality; and
 6      WHEREAS, Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as rheumatoid
 7   disease, affects approximately 1% of the world's population,
 8   with more than 1.3 million Americans currently diagnosed; and
 9      WHEREAS, Common symptoms of rheumatoid disease include joint
10   pain, fatigue, fevers, stiffness, hoarseness and dry eyes; and
11      WHEREAS, There is a lack of awareness about rheumatoid
12   disease since it is often presumed to be a type of arthritis,
13   leading to problems with disability accommodations, clinical
14   care, health care reimbursement and research funding; and
15      WHEREAS, The Mayo Clinic states that rheumatoid arthritis
16   patients have a 50% higher risk of heart attack, twice the risk
 1   of heart failure and an increase in peripheral vascular disease
 2   than people who do not have rheumatoid arthritis; and
 3      WHEREAS, The lifetime risk of developing the disease is 3.6%
 4   for women and 1.7% for men; and
 5      WHEREAS, "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" comes at the start of
 6   "American Heart Month," underscoring the impact rheumatoid
 7   disease has on the heart prior to diagnosis; and
 8      WHEREAS, The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation recognizes
 9   February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in order to
10   increase public awareness of the disease; therefore be it
11      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
12   February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.




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