05 LC 98
0134
House
Resolution 213
By:
Representatives Harbin of the
118th,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
and Burmeister of the
119th
A
RESOLUTION
Declaring
May as Stroke Awareness Month in Georgia and encouraging the citizens of Georgia
to discuss stroke prevention with their health care providers; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
every 53 seconds someone in the United States experiences a stroke, and one-
third of stroke victims are under the age of 65; and
WHEREAS,
stroke, or brain attack, is the third leading cause of death in America, killing
160,000 people annually; and
WHEREAS,
stroke is a leading cause of adult disability, and there are more than four
million stroke survivors in the United States, two-thirds of whom live with
moderate to severe disabilities; and
WHEREAS,
the United States spends more than $52 billion in direct and indirect costs on
stroke; and
WHEREAS,
prompt treatment of stroke can save lives and reduce disability;
and
WHEREAS,
a majority of Americans do not know how to reduce their risk of stroke and
cannot identify a single symptom of stroke, which include sudden numbness or
weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden
confusion or trouble speaking, understanding, walking, or seeing; and sudden
headache with no known cause; and
WHEREAS,
stroke is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems,
yet many Americans do not discuss their stroke risks with their primary health
care providers; and
WHEREAS,
public awareness of the risks and warning signs of a stroke is essential to
prevention and early treatment, which can greatly reduce the incidents of stroke
and its often devastating side effects; and
WHEREAS,
National Stroke Association celebrates National Stroke Awareness Month in May
and urges people to take charge of their health by asking their health care
providers about stroke risks and adopting healthy lifestyle habits to lower
their risk; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is located in the region known as the "stroke belt" and, as the sixth
leading state in deaths due to strokes, is considered the "buckle" of the stroke
belt.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body declare May as Stroke Awareness Month in the State of Georgia and
encourage the citizens of Georgia to talk to their health care providers about
reducing their risk of stroke.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to National
Stroke Association.