Declare Women's Lung Health Week

Assembly Resolution No. 403 BY: M. of A. Jaffee MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 7-13, 2017, as Women's Lung Health Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official weeks set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 7-13, 2017, as Women's Lung Health Week in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Women's Lung Health Week celebrates and honors the power of women who stand united to fight lung cancer; and WHEREAS, Lung Cancer is the number one killer of women; more women die of lung cancer than any other cancer; and WHEREAS, An estimated 70,000 women lost their lives to lung cancer in 2013; and WHEREAS, Tobacco use and exposure account for 98% of lung cancer; lifestyle related behaviors are also linked to increased risk of a cancer diagnosis; and WHEREAS, Asthma rates among women rose 97% compared to a 22% increase in men over a 14 year period; and WHEREAS, Chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) currently accounts for 1.5 million emergency room visits, 71,500 hospitalizations, and eight million physician office and hospital outpatient visits annually; women are 37% more likely to have COPD than men; and WHEREAS, Women may also suffer from a host of other lung ailments including: pulmonary emboli, blood clots which travel to the lungs from other parts of the body; pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the arteries which bring blood to the lungs; sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis, inflammatory diseases which cause stiffening and scarring in the lungs; LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatosis), a rare lung disease that mostly affects women in their mid-30s and 40s; and influenza (the flu) and pneumonia, respiratory infections caused by a virus which can damage the lungs; and WHEREAS, Access to adequate health care has a significant impact on a woman's chance of surviving cancer; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health issue and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 7-13, 2017, as Women's Lung Health Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.