We Are 50 Million

I hope everyone is enjoying your week!  I pray you are having wonderful spring weather. 

I have discovered a wonderful benefit since I began blogging.  Being new to blogging, I did not realize all the bloggy friends that would enter my life.  Such a blessed feeling to have someone you do not know in person, to connect with you by blog.  I have found such a friend in Ellie of Little of This and a Little of That.  You can find her blog here.  She is such a sweet and encouraging soul. 

Ellie and I have more in common  than blogging, we both have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have learned a lot from her and she has been generous enough to allow me to share with you one of her informative blog posts.  See I told you she was sweet!  Please enjoy her post today and give her a visit. 

Thank you Ellie!!

Blessings to you all!!

 

“We are 50 Million”

March is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month.  What does autoimmune disease mean to you?  Does it affect you or your loved ones?  This is a category of disease which  affects more Americans then Cancer and remains one of the top 10 killers of women under the age of 64.  This is very near and dear to me as I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis myself.  I was diagnosed in 2001.  I take several medications and an injection weekly to treat it.

During the awareness month, we ask supporters to take notice of the 50 million of our friends, family, and co-workers who suffer every day with one or more of the 100+ autoimmune diseases and introduce you to the “We are 50 Million” campaign.  “We are 50 Million” will spotlight autoimmune patient stories from around the country answering the question, “How Many of the 50 Million Does Your Family Represent?”  The answers to this question highlight important facts about autoimmune diseases which everyone should be aware of.  Supporters of this mission are also encouraged to text A-A-R-D-A to 20222 to donate $5 for the benefit of AARDA research by the Mobile Giving Foundation in order to help future research.

Did you know that?

1.       50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease comprising a major U.S. health crisis

2.       There are 100+ autoimmune diseases including: lupus, Crohn’s disease, celiac, Addison’s disease, vasculitis, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ulcerative colitis.

3.       Autoimmune diseases tend to “cluster” in families, for example, if your grandmother had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus, you could be at greater risk for developing an autoimmune disease. 

4.       Less than 13 percent of American’s can name an autoimmune disease and yet it ranks as deadly as Cancer and Heart Disease.

5.       Autoimmune diseases target women 75 percent more often than men and they are one of the top ten killers of women under the age of 64. 

For more information visit the official website at http://www.aarda.org/ or find AARDA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/American-Autoimmune-Related-Diseases-Association-AARDA/128417011188.  

You can also visit http://www.westglen.com/online/18812.html to watch a special announcement from AARDA.

Read more: http://www.alittleoftheother.com/2011/03/we-are-50-million.html#ixzz1HX8aMgbx