A HOUSE RESOLUTION supporting continued research to find a treatment and cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as lou gehrig's disease.
Whereas, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is better known as Lou Gehrig's disease; and
Whereas, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by degeneration of the cell bodies of the lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horns of the spinal cord; and
Whereas, the initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
Whereas, as ALS progresses, the patient experiences difficulty in swallowing, talking, and breathing; and
Whereas, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy, and the patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
Whereas, ALS does not affect a patient's mental capacity, so the patient remains alert and aware of the patient's loss of motor functions and of the inevitable outcome of continued deterioration and death; and
Whereas, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and
Whereas, it is estimated that up to 30,000 Americans, including North Carolinians, may have ALS; and
Whereas, ALS has no known cause, no means of prevention, and no cure; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives supports all efforts to make the citizens of North Carolina aware of the dangers posed by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives urges the President of the United States and members of the United States Congress to ensure that research continues in order to find a treatment and, eventually, a cure for ALS.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.