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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disorder
3 that historically has been chronic and incurable, with a poor
4 survival rate; and
 
5      WHEREAS, In the United States, it has been estimated that
6 300 new cases of pulmonary hypertension are diagnosed each
7 year; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The greatest number of cases are reported in women
9 between the ages of 21 and 40, although pulmonary hypertension
10 can affect men, women, and children at any age; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Pulmonary hypertension also affects people of all
12 racial and ethnic origins equally; and
 
13     WHEREAS, About 6 to 10 percent of pulmonary hypertension
14 cases are familial; and
 
15     WHEREAS, During the period January 1996 through December
16 1997, almost 6,000,000 Americans took anorexic drugs, which can
17 cause pulmonary hypertension; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Pulmonary hypertension remains a diagnosis of
19 exclusion and is rarely detected in routine medical
20 examinations; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Even in later stages, the signs of pulmonary
22 hypertension can be confused with other conditions affecting
23 the heart and lungs; and
 
24     WHEREAS, One form of pulmonary hypertension, known as
25 secondary pulmonary hypertension, is caused by other diseases,
26 and two common causes of secondary pulmonary hypertension are
27 emphysema and bronchitis; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Other causes are inflammatory or collagen
2 vascular disease such as scleroderma, CREST syndrome, or
3 systemic lupus erythematosus; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Early diagnosis can lead to early treatment and
5 the possibility of improved quality of life and prolonged life;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, Education can help with early diagnosis;
8 therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 the month of November is hereby designated as Pulmonary
12 Hypertension Awareness Month in Illinois; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That we recognize and applaud the role played by
14 health organizations and health care providers in promoting
15 awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, testing, and
16 ongoing screening for pulmonary hypertension, and we encourage
17 health organizations in this State to host activities to
18 promote pulmonary hypertension awareness; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 delivered to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.