WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is a chronic, long-lasting disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping. Scientists do not fully understand what causes it, but people with the disorder have a heightened sensitivity to pain; and

WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia may have a genetic component, as studies show it tends to run in families and researchers have found genes related to the pain response that may play a role in a person’s risk for developing the disorder; and

WHEREAS, The disorder is six times more common in women than in men, though this female predominance seems to be much lower when newer diagnostic criteria are used; and

WHEREAS, While there have been few studies assessing the relationship between women who have been abused and the likelihood of them developing long-term illnesses such as fibromyalgia, research shows that women who have experienced sexual assault or domestic abuse are almost twice as likely to develop fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) than those who have not; and

WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose, as there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for the disorder. The main symptoms, including pain and fatigue, are shared with many other conditions, so doctors typically try to rule out other causes. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, and doctors typically will perform a physical exam and examine joints to see if the individual has another condition, or order laboratory or imaging tests to help rule out other diseases and conditions; and

WHEREAS, There is no cure for fibromyalgia, so treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms and can include psychological and behavioral therapy, medications, and self-management approaches, such as physical exercise; and

WHEREAS, Other conditions commonly present in patients with fibromyalgia are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and rheumatologic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus; and

WHEREAS, Lupus is an acute, chronic, complex, and often life-threatening autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of the body; and

WHEREAS, There are four types of lupus: systemic lupus, cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus; and

WHEREAS, Systemic lupus is the more common type of lupus, accounting for approximately 70 percent of the cases, and affects the heart, lungs, kidney, or brain; and

WHEREAS, Cutaneous lupus only affects the skin and accounts for 10 percent of cases; and

WHEREAS, Drug-induced lupus, accounting for 10 percent of cases, is caused by high doses of certain medication; and

WHEREAS, The most rare form is neonatal lupus, in which the mother’s antibodies affect the fetus. At birth, the baby may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms typically disappear completely after six months with no lasting effects; and

WHEREAS, Anyone can develop lupus, although some have a higher risk of developing it. Nine out of 10 people with lupus are women, and women between 15 to 44 years of age have a higher chance of developing lupus; and

WHEREAS, Racial groups such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and Native Americans have a higher chance of having lupus, with women of color being four times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, A study reported that African American lupus patients are more likely to have organ system involvement, a more active disease, and lower levels of social support compared with White lupus patients; and

WHEREAS, Lupus mostly strikes women of childbearing age, affecting all aspects of their lives. However, men, children, and teenagers can develop lupus too; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that 1,500,000 Americans, and at least 5,000,000 people worldwide, have a form of lupus; and

WHEREAS, It is believed that between 10 to 15 percent of people with lupus will die prematurely due to complications of lupus; and

WHEREAS, A study showed that lupus was among the top 20 leading causes of death in women between 5 and 64 years of age. Lupus was ranked fifth in the leading causes of death for African American and Hispanic women between 15 and 24 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Lupus can be particularly difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to symptoms of other illnesses and, on average, it takes nearly six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed from the time they first notice their lupus symptoms. Approximately 63 percent of people with lupus report being incorrectly diagnosed when surveyed; and

WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and proper treatments are critical to the improvement of the quality of life and survival rate of people with lupus; and

WHEREAS, There is no known cause of, or cure for, lupus; and

WHEREAS, There have only been two drugs approved specifically for lupus by the United States Food and Drug Administration in more than 60 years, with over a decade between approvals. The current treatments for the disease can have damaging effects, and it is important to increase awareness in the State of California of the debilitating impact of lupus; and

WHEREAS, Sixty-three percent of Americans surveyed have never heard of lupus or know little or nothing about this disease and its symptoms beyond the name, indicating there is significant opportunity and need for continued public education; and

WHEREAS, Increased public awareness, education, and research are key to winning the battle against lupus and fibromyalgia; now, therefore, be it