Declare Stroke Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 2379 BY: Senator RIVERA MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2020, as Stroke Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are 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, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2020, as Stroke Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Stroke Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Every 40 seconds someone in the United States experiences a stroke; and WHEREAS, Stroke, or brain attack, is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, killing approximately 146,383 people annually; stroke can happen to anyone at anytime, regardless of race, gender, or age; and WHEREAS, Each year, approximately 55,000 more women than men will have a stroke; and WHEREAS, Almost 795,000 people will experience a stroke this year; about 610,000 are new attacks and 185,000 are recurrent attacks; and WHEREAS, Stroke is a medical emergency; prompt treatment of a stroke could mean the difference between life and death, complete recovery and disability; and WHEREAS, Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability; there are more than seven million stroke survivors in the United States, with two-thirds living with moderate to severe disabilities; and WHEREAS, More than one-third of Americans cannot identify a single symptom of stroke, such as sudden trouble talking, walking or seeing; paralysis, usually on one side of the body; and sudden severe headache with no known cause even though there is now an easy and F.A.S.T. (Face; Arms, Speech and Time) stroke recognition system; and WHEREAS, Understanding the warning signs and emergency treatment can save lives, reduce disability, and possibly even reverse all impacts of the stroke; and WHEREAS, The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each decade of life after age 55; while stroke is common among the elderly, many people under 65 also have strokes; and WHEREAS, Over 6,000 people die from strokes in New York State every year; the estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke for 2010 was $73.7 billion; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2020, as Stroke Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Stroke Awareness Month, and to encourage all New Yorkers to ask their doctors about stroke prevention and the warning signs of stroke; 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.