A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Coalition of North Carolina and expressing appreciation for the organizers' commitment to raising awareness of this disease.
Whereas, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the third leading cause of death in the United States and, unlike many diseases yielding to advances in medicine, this disease is not experiencing a decline in death rates; and
Whereas, COPD is a chronic, progressive disease that impacts 24 million persons nationwide, with as many as half remaining undiagnosed; and
Whereas, the primary risk factor for COPD is smoking, which accounts for up to 90% of COPD‑related deaths, with other risk factors including environmental exposure, air pollution, secondhand smoke, a history of childhood respiratory infections, and alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency; and
Whereas, nationwide, the annual cost of COPD is nearly $50 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct heath care expenditures, $8 billion in indirect morbidity costs, and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs; and
Whereas, early COPD screening and detection is critical, as most people with COPD are not diagnosed until they have already lost half of their lung function; and
Whereas, coordinated community efforts such as "DRIVE 4 COPD," the nation's single largest awareness and screening campaign for COPD, which has screened more than 2 million people since its launch in February 2010, can dramatically improve public health; and
Whereas, there is no cure for COPD, but proper management of the disease can lead to improved quality of life and self‑sufficiency for COPD patients, many of whom receive through public programs care that slows damage to their heart and lungs; and
Whereas, bringing about awareness of COPD is a fitting testimonial and tribute to the North Carolinians that have lost their battle with COPD; and
Whereas, Ed Brailey, a firefighter, a transplant recipient, and a former member and chair of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coalition of North Carolina, was affected with genetic COPD, also referred to as Alpha‑1; and
Whereas, Ed Brailey is emblematic of the many North Carolinians who have died from COPD; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Coalition of North Carolina and expresses appreciation to the national COPD Foundation, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and North Carolina stakeholders for their commitment to raising awareness of this disease.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of Ed Brailey and others whose lives have been affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.