Florida Senate - 2019 (NP) SR 1850
By Senator Wright
14-00851A-19 20191850__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing May 2019 as “American Stroke
3 Month” in Florida.
4
5 WHEREAS, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term
6 disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United
7 States, annually killing more than 140,000 people nationwide and
8 29,600 in Florida, and
9 WHEREAS, stroke prevalence is projected to increase by 20.5
10 percent between 2016 and 2030, and the direct medical costs for
11 treating stroke are expected to almost triple during that
12 period, from $71.6 billion to $184.1 billion, and
13 WHEREAS, nearly 80 million Americans have high blood
14 pressure, a major controllable risk factor for stroke, including
15 44 percent of African-American adults, an incidence that is
16 among the highest percentage of hypertension in any population
17 in the world, and
18 WHEREAS, 58 percent of Americans do not know they are at
19 risk for stroke, and one in three cannot recall any stroke
20 warning signs or symptoms, which may include sudden numbness or
21 weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the
22 body; sudden confusion or difficulty in speaking or
23 understanding; sudden difficulty in seeing in one or both eyes;
24 sudden difficulty in walking; dizziness; loss of balance or
25 coordination; and a sudden severe headache with no known cause,
26 and
27 WHEREAS, the most common signs and symptoms of stroke can
28 be remembered by the acronym F.A.S.T., which stands for face
29 drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and “time to call 9
30 1-1,” and
31 WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
32 Prevention, atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia,
33 an abnormal heart rhythm, and risk factors for atrial
34 fibrillation include many of the same risk factors as stroke,
35 including high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, advanced
36 age hyperthyroidism, and heart disease, and
37 WHEREAS, those with atrial fibrillation have a risk of
38 stroke that is five times greater than those without, and 15
39 percent to 20 percent of all people who have strokes also have
40 atrial fibrillation, and
41 WHEREAS, atrial fibrillation is a serious health issue that
42 warrants greater community awareness, which can improve the
43 likelihood that people with atrial fibrillation will seek the
44 treatment they need before suffering the devastating
45 consequences of a stroke, and
46 WHEREAS, on May 1, 2019, the American Stroke Association
47 will celebrate its Day of Action as part of American Stroke
48 Month and as part of its year-round initiative, “Together to End
49 Stroke,” launched in collaboration with the American Heart
50 Association, which celebration brings stroke awareness to the
51 forefront of Americans’ minds and encourages people to memorize
52 and share the stroke warning signs and call 9-1-1 at the first
53 sign of a stroke, and
54 WHEREAS, new and effective treatments have been developed
55 to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effects of
56 strokes, but much more research is needed, NOW, THEREFORE,
57
58 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
59
60 That May 2019 is recognized as “American Stroke Month” in
61 Florida, and that all residents of this state are urged to
62 familiarize themselves with the risk factors, warning signs, and
63 symptoms associated with stroke.
64 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the residents of this state are
65 encouraged to call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a stroke in order
66 to reduce the devastating effects of stroke and to ensure that
67 Floridians may live stronger, healthier lives.