June is APS Awareness Month

June is APS Awareness Month

The Proclamation is a call to action for governments around the world to increase their financial support for APS research, awareness and patient services.

Each year, the APS Foundation of America, Inc (APSFA) will revise the Proclamation to reflect the emerging issues that people with APS around the world must face every day. The Proclamation serves to give a single voice to all individuals affected by this devastating and debilitating chronic disease.

Please join the APSFA in urging your government to adopt and make June APS Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, The APS Foundation of America, Inc. has declared June as National Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) Awareness Month and is educating the public and medical community about this clotting disorder and is urging people to "Get in the Flow”; and

WHEREAS, APS is the major cause of young strokes, many miscarriages, both arterial and venous thrombosis, and heart attacks. It has been estimated by some doctors that one third of all of young strokes (defined as under the age of 50) are due to APS. Some doctors believe that 1 in 5 of all Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVTs), Pulmonary Embolisms (PEs), and even worse, amputations are due to APS. And it is believed that 40-50% of patients with Lupus also have APS. Women are more likely than men to be affected by APS. Some estimates say that 75% to 90% of those affected are women. In obstetrics, it is estimated by some doctors that up to 25% of all women with 2 or more spontaneous miscarriages have APS; and

WHEREAS, the APS Foundation of America, Inc is working to bring a national attention to APS as a common factor in multiple miscarriages, thrombosis, young strokes, and heart attacks is vital in order to bring a joint effort to research, funding, early detection, and eventually, prevention and cure for APS; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the APS Foundation of America, Inc. is to offer understanding and support to individuals, family, friends, and care givers of APS; to offer information about and education on APS; to support research regarding APS by keeping the latest information available and referring people to such agencies who do research; to raise funds to provide information and education through public donations, grants, fundraisers, sponsorships, and bequests; and to bring national focus to APS in the United States.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that June is hereby designated as APS AWARENESS MONTH on which the APS Foundation of America, Inc call for increases in public and private sector funding for medical research on APS, targeted education programs for health professionals, patients and the public, and worldwide recognition of APS as a significant public health issue.

Proclaimed This Day, 1 June 2007