LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim November 2012 as COPD Awareness month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used to
describe airflow obstruction that is associated mainly with emphysema
and chronic bronchitis; and
WHEREAS, There is indication of COPD being underdiagnosed as an esti-
mated 24 million people have evidence of impaired lung function, and
COPD kills more than 120,000 Americans every year; on average, one
person dies from COPD every 4 minutes; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the National Center for Health Statistics released a
report stating that in 2008 COPD became the third leading cause of death
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Pulmonary experts predict that, by the year 2020, COPD will
become the third leading cause of death worldwide; and
WHEREAS, COPD currently accounts for 1.5 million emergency room
visits, 715,000 hospitalizations, and 8 million physician office and
hospital outpatient visits, all of which are a detriment to the U.S.
economy; COPD costs the nation an estimated $49.9 billion in direct and
indirect medical costs annually; and
WHEREAS, Smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD; approximately 85
to 90 percent of COPD deaths are caused by smoking; and
WHEREAS, COPD affects almost 650,000 citizens of the State of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Coordinated community efforts, such as the New York COPD
Coalition, a public-private partnership of individuals and organizations
that created the New York COPD Action Plan, can result in dramatic
improvements to public health and reduced healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, Research has identified a hereditary protein deficiency
called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin; people with this deficiency tend to develop
COPD, even without exposure to smoking or environmental triggers; and
WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for COPD; spirometry testing and
medical treatments exist to address symptom relief and possibly slow the
progression of the disease; and
WHEREAS, Until there is a cure, the best approaches to preventing COPD
and its considerable health, societal, and mortality impacts lie with
education, awareness, and expanded delivery of detection and management
protocols; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2012 as COPD
Awareness month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.