Arthritis Awareness Month resolution adopted in House

May 26, 2009

‘Arthritis Awareness Month’ resolution adopted in House

HARRISBURG, May 2009 – State Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, said the House has adopted a resolution (H.R. 306) she sponsored designating May 2009 as Arthritis Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.

Arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, swelling and limited movement in joints and connective tissue throughout the body. About 70 million Americans have some form of arthritis, and two-thirds of sufferers are women. It is the number-one cause of limited mobility for U.S. residents and costs more than $86 billion each year in medical care and lost wages.

"The keys to reducing the impact of arthritis are early diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each individual," Mann said. "To achieve those goals, we need to raise awareness of the disease and enact legislation that provides sufficient funding and support for arthritis services and research."

Mann serves as the co-chairman of the bipartisan Legislative Arthritis and Osteoporosis Caucus.