Senate Resolution 43 - Introduced PAG LIN S.R. ________ H.R. ________ 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 HOGG and HARTSUCH 1 3 A Resolution to recognize May 2007 as American Stroke 1 4 Awareness Month and National High Blood Pressure 1 5 Education Month. 1 6 WHEREAS, the themes for American Stroke Awareness 1 7 Month 2007 are "Young People and Stroke," in order to 1 8 educate the public and policymakers about the 1 9 devastating effects of stroke in young people under 1 10 age 30, and "Igniting the Power to End Stroke," in 1 11 order to empower African=Americans, who are at 1 12 particularly high risk of the disease, to reduce their 1 13 risk, recognize the warning signs, and respond 1 14 quickly; and 1 15 WHEREAS, stroke, the third leading cause of death 1 16 in Iowa, leads to the death of nearly 2,000 citizens 1 17 of Iowa each year even though it is highly treatable 1 18 in the first three hours; and 1 19 WHEREAS, stroke is a leading cause of serious 1 20 long=term disability with more than two=thirds of 1 21 stroke survivors experiencing functional limitations 1 22 or difficulty with activities of daily living; and 1 23 WHEREAS, Iowans are more aware of the risk factors 1 24 and warning signs for stroke than in the past, but 1 25 only one in five adults know all six stroke symptoms; 1 26 and 1 27 WHEREAS, warning signs of stroke include sudden 1 28 numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, 1 29 especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, 1 30 trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble 2 1 seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, 2 2 dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; and 2 3 sudden severe headache with no known cause; and 2 4 WHEREAS, high blood pressure is a primary cause of 2 5 stroke, one in four Iowans have high blood pressure, 2 6 more than half of the Iowans with high blood pressure 2 7 are younger than 65 years old, and blood pressures 2 8 greater than 120/80 require a plan to prevent 2 9 full=blown high blood pressure; and 2 10 WHEREAS, new and effective treatments have been 2 11 developed to treat high blood pressure and minimize 2 12 the severity and damaging effects of strokes, but much 2 13 more research is needed; NOW THEREFORE, 2 14 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 2 15 recognizes May 2007 as American Stroke Awareness Month 2 16 and National High Blood Pressure Education Month in 2 17 Iowa and urges all citizens to react to stroke 2 18 symptoms immediately and treat high blood pressure 2 19 aggressively so that we might begin to reduce the 2 20 devastating effects of stroke on our population; and 2 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate recognizes 2 22 the American Stroke Association, a division of the 2 23 American Heart Association, for its ongoing efforts to 2 24 educate Americans concerning the threat posed by 2 25 strokes and high blood pressure. 2 26 LSB 2931SS 82 2 27 jr:rj/je/5