A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month.

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 229 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 229

Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease Awareness Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 23, 2003

Mr. Crapo submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease Awareness Month.

Whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (``COPD'') is primarily associated
with emphysema and chronic bronchitis;
Whereas an estimated 10,000,000 adults in the United States have been diagnosed
by a physician with COPD;
Whereas an estimated 24,000,000 adults in the United States have symptoms of
impaired lung function, indicating that COPD is underdiagnosed;
Whereas COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible;
Whereas as COPD progresses, the airways and alveoli in the lungs lose elasticity
and the airway walls collapse, closing off smaller airways and narrowing
larger ones;
Whereas symptoms of COPD include chronic coughing, shortness of breath,
increased effort to breathe, increased mucus production, and frequent
clearing of the throat;
Whereas risk factors for COPD include long-term smoking, a family history of
COPD, exposure to air pollution or second-hand smoke, and a history of
frequent childhood respiratory infections;
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD report that their
condition limits their ability to work, sleep, and participate in social
and physical activities;
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD feel they are not in
control of their breathing, panic when they cannot catch their breath,
and expect their condition to worsen;
Whereas nearly 119,000 adults died in the United States of COPD in 2000, making
COPD the fourth leading cause of death in the United States;
Whereas COPD accounted for 8,000,000 office visits to doctors, 1,500,000
emergency department visits, and 726,000 hospitalizations by adults in
the United States in 2000;
Whereas COPD cost the economy of the United States an estimated $32,100,000,000
in 2002;
Whereas too many people with COPD are not diagnosed or are not receiving
adequate treatment; and
Whereas the establishment of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness
Month would raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with
the disease: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month.
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