LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 2016 as Sarcoidosis 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 memori-
alize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2016 as Sarcoidosis
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease which can affect
almost any organ in the body; it causes heightened immunity, which means
that a person's immune system, which normally protects the body from
infection and disease, overreacts, resulting in damage to the body's own
tissues; and
WHEREAS, The classic feature of Sarcoidosis is the formation of granu-
lomas, microscopic clumps of inflammatory cells which group together,
and look like granules; when too many of these clumps form in an organ
they can interfere with how that organ functions; and
WHEREAS, In people in the United States, Sarcoidosis most commonly
targets the lungs and lymph nodes, but the disease can and usually does
affect other organs, including, but not limited to, the skin, eyes,
liver, salivary glands, sinuses, kidneys, heart, the muscles and bones,
and the brain, as well as the nervous system; and
WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis can be tricky to diagnose and is often confused
with other diseases; many people with Sarcoidosis think they have the
flu or a respiratory infection before they are properly diagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Common symptoms of Sarcoidosis include: cough, shortness of
breath, chest pain, night sweats, fatigue, and wheezing or abnormal
breathing, as well as feeling congested; and
WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis also can cause the following: skin rashes or
raised bumps on the skin, joint pain or stiffness, eye irritation,
dryness of the eyes and sometimes blurry vision, fast heart rate or
lightheadedness, kidney stones, increased levels of calcium in the
bloodstream, and abnormal liver function; and
WHEREAS, The exact cause of Sarcoidosis is unknown; while no specific
gene mutation has been shown to cause Sarcoidosis, it sometimes runs in
families, and there may be a genetic tendency to develop Sarcoidosis;
and
WHEREAS, Some research suggests that an infection or exposure to some-
thing in the environment can trigger the immune system to overreact;
unfortunately, many of our heroic First Responders to the 9/11 tragedy
in New York City, have Sarcoidosis due to breathing in the heavy dust;
and
WHEREAS, It has been found that people of African and Scandinavian
descent are slightly more likely to develop Sarcoidosis than Caucasians;
women are more likely to develop the disease than men; some exposures to
dusty or moldy environments have increased risk of developing Sarcoido-
sis, and people between 20 to 40 years of age are more likely to develop
Sarcoidosis than others; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature continues its commitment to
educate the public in the importance of early detection and prevention,
to support institutions that further research and knowledge in the
treatment of Sarcoidosis, and to promote an environment in which a heal-
thy lifestyle will result in healthy minds and bodies; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
proclaim April 2016 as Sarcoidosis 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.