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JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROMOTE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AWARENESS
WHEREAS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a term used to describe an airflow obstruction disease that is associated mainly with emphysema and chronic bronchitis; and
WHEREAS,  COPD affects an estimated 24 million people and kills more than 120,000 Americans every year; on average, one person dies from COPD every 4 minutes, an alarming statistic for a disease many have not learned about; and
WHEREAS,  in 2010, the federal National Center for Health Statistics released a report stating that in 2008 COPD became the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States; and
WHEREAS,  pulmonary experts predict that, by 2020, COPD will become the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide; and
WHEREAS,  COPD currently accounts for 1,500,000 emergency room visits, 726,000 hospitalizations and 8,000,000 physician's office and hospital outpatient visits, all of which are a detriment to the United States economy, and COPD costs the nation an estimated $42,600,000,000 in direct and indirect medical costs annually; and
WHEREAS,  research has identified a hereditary protein deficiency called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin; people with this deficiency tend to develop COPD, even without exposure to smoking or environmental triggers; and
WHEREAS,  recently the death rate for women with COPD has surpassed the death rate for men with COPD; women over the age of 40 are the fastest-growing segment of the population developing this irreversible disease; and
WHEREAS,  there is currently no cure for COPD; spirometry testing and medical treatments exist to identify and address symptoms and possibly slow the progression of the disease; and
WHEREAS,  until there is a cure, the best approaches to preventing COPD and its considerable health, societal and mortality effects lie with education, awareness and expanded delivery of detection and management protocols; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Legislature now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to encourage more awareness of this deadly disease and its effects on the citizens of this State in order that we may reduce future cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.