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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Essential tremor is the most common movement
3 disorder, affecting up to 10 million Americans, including four
4 to five percent of people aged 40 to 60, and six to nine
5 percent of people aged 60 and older; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Essential tremor is often misdiagnosed as
7 Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and other conditions; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Essential tremor is not a normal outcome of aging,
9 as believed by many people including some physicians, but is an
10 abnormal condition, primarily genetic, afflicting people of
11 all ages, including newborns; and
 
12     WHEREAS, There are no medications that have been developed
13 for people with essential tremor, the medications used were
14 developed for other conditions and only help 60% of the people
15 affected, and the only treatment specifically designed for
16 essential tremor is brain surgery; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Essential tremor interferes with a person's
18 ability to perform activities of daily living such as grooming
19 and writing, and in approximately five percent of cases is
20 totally disabling; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Research shows that people with essential tremor
2 have a higher incidence of depression than the general
3 population and that a significant number of these people
4 isolate themselves in their homes; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Most people with essential tremor are not
6 diagnosed until after several visits to the physician; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Essential tremor is a chronic condition that
8 undermines the American economy through lost wages and work
9 hours and high medical costs in getting an accurate diagnosis;
10 and
 
11     WHEREAS, Overcoming the medical, social, and economic
12 issues listed above depends upon research and research funding
13 is dependent upon awareness; therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
15 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United
16 States Congress to designate the month of March, 2010 as
17 National Essential Tremor Awareness Month for the purpose of
18 raising awareness about the nation's number one neurological
19 condition, affecting approximately 10 million Americans; and
20 be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That we encourage the people of the United States

 

 

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1 to observe National Essential Tremor Awareness Month with
2 appropriate educational activities; and be it further
 
3     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
4 presented to the Illinois congressional delegation and the
5 leadership of the United States congress.