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.