Bill Text: NY K00589 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2019, as Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-17 - adopted [K00589 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00589-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 589

BY: M. of A. DeStefano

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        September  2019,  as Dystonia 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
illnesses 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  September  2019,  as
Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Dystonia  is a disorder that causes muscles in the body to
contract and spasm involuntarily; individuals affected by this  disorder
cannot control or predict the movement of their bodies; and

  WHEREAS,  Dystonia  is  characterized  by persistent or intermittent
muscle  contractions  causing  abnormal,  often  repetitive,  movements,
postures, or both; the movements are usually patterned and twisting, and
may resemble a tremor; and

  WHEREAS,  This  disorder is often initiated or worsened by voluntary
movements, and symptoms may "overflow" into adjacent  muscles;  further-
more,  dystonia  is  classified  by  clinical characteristics and cause,
including changes or damage  to  the  nervous  system  and  inheritance;
doctors use these classifications to guide diagnosis and treatment; and

  WHEREAS,  Symptoms  of  dystonia  are  usually  chronic but may also
appear only during "attacks" or episodes, in which case the dystonia  is
termed   paroxysmal;   sometimes  symptoms  occur  only  during  certain
movements such as walking, speaking or playing a musical instrument; and

  WHEREAS, These symptoms may also affect a specific part of the  body
or many parts simultaneously, and may also be painful; and

  WHEREAS,  Although  the  cause of dystonia is not known, researchers
believe that dystonia results from an abnormality in or  damage  to  the
basal ganglia or other brain regions that control movement; there may be
abnormalities  in the brain's ability to process neurotransmitters which
help cells in the brain communicate with each other; there many also  be
abnormalities  in  the way the brain processes information and generates
commands to move; and

  WHEREAS, The third most common movement  disorder  following  tremor
and  Parkinson's  disease, dystonia affects approximately 300,000 people
in North America; this disorder does not  discriminate,  affecting  men,
women and children of all ages and backgrounds; and

  WHEREAS,  Dystonia  may  be  inherited  or  result from other health
conditions such as stroke, physical trauma, other diseases, or as a side
effect of certain medications; although there is no cure  for  dystonia,

treatments  are  available  including  oral medications, botulinum toxin
injections, and several types of surgery; 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 September 2019, as
Dystonia Awareness Month 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.