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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
Designating February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive inflammatory
disease causing damage to joint and organ tissues, resulting in
severe pain, frequent disability and increased mortality; and
WHEREAS, Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as rheumatoid
disease, affects approximately 1% of the world's population,
with more than 1.3 million Americans currently diagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Common symptoms of rheumatoid disease include joint
pain, fatigue, fevers, stiffness, hoarseness and dry eyes; and
WHEREAS, There is a lack of awareness about rheumatoid
disease since it is often presumed to be a type of arthritis,
leading to problems with disability accommodations, clinical
care, health care reimbursement and research funding; and
WHEREAS, The Mayo Clinic states that rheumatoid arthritis
patients have a 50% higher risk of heart attack, twice the risk
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of heart failure and an increase in peripheral vascular disease
than people who do not have rheumatoid arthritis; and
WHEREAS, The lifetime risk of developing the disease is 3.6%
for women and 1.7% for men; and
WHEREAS, "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" comes at the start of
"American Heart Month," underscoring the impact rheumatoid
disease has on the heart prior to diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation recognizes
February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in order to
increase public awareness of the disease; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
February 2, 2025, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.
20250HR0016PN0248 - 2 -
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