<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

CA State Senate Introduces Resolution to Declare May 2011 as Celiac Disease Awareness Month in California

FebRuary 18, 2011: To help raise awareness about Celiac Disease, Senator Bob Huff, (R) 29th District  introduced SCR 7, designating May, 2011 as Celiac Disease Awareness Month in California .

Celiac Disease is the #1 genetic autoimmune disease in the United States as well as the most common in the world. It is estimated that 3 million Americans are affected by Celiac Disease, yet 97% of them don't even know it....yet. The average delay in diagnosis is 9 years.

If left undiagnosed, related autoimmune diseases include Type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Thyroid Disease and certain types of cancers.
*        There is no cure. Celiac Disease is the only disease completely controlled by diet. The "cure" requires a life-time commitment to a strict Gluten-Free diet. Ingestion of even a crumb of wheat, rye and/or barley can cause a severe reaction.
*        Symptoms may include: diarrhea, weight loss/gain, migraine headaches, anemia and infertility.
*        Research shows that the numbers of affected Americans doubles every 20 years.


Shining a light on "the #1 disease that you've never heard of" will certainly result in earlier and more accurate diagnosis, ultimately saving lives and, of course, saving money on health care.

May is already recognized as National Celiac Awareness Month, and New York, Oregon, North Carolina and Ohio have recently come on board at the state level with their own resolutions.  Declaring May as Celiac Awareness Month in California will help bring attention to the disease and facilitate the goal of increasing awareness.  Elaine Monarch, founder and executive director of the Celiac Disease Foundation, expressed the importance of such a designation:  "CDF is grateful to Senator Bob Huff for being at the forefront of this Resolution, which will help us shine a light on the importance of the early diagnosis of Celiac Disease"

Celiac Disease Foundation Annual Educational Conference and Food Faire will be held May 14th at the Hilton Hotel/Los Angeles/Universal City.  Registration is now available online: www.celiac.org<http://www.celiac.org>, or by calling (818) 990-2354

CDF has partnered with Not Even A Crumb (tm) Productions ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) to create a series of PSA's and on-line educational tools. The 1st PSA will air in May in conjunction with the Conference.



*****For more information contact: Deb Wheaton ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)     Phone: (818) 249-4668


Celiac Disease Foundation
13251 Ventura Blvd. Suite 1
Studio City, CA 91604
818-990-2354 phone
www.celiac.org<http://www.celiac.org/>

CDF Annual Education & Food Faire - May 14, 2011 - Hilton Hotel Los Angeles/Universal City


*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*
*******
To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[log in to unmask]
*******