AL HJR496

Designates May 2011 as "Lupus Awareness Month" in Alabama.

Lupus is an acute, chronic, and lifelong autoimmune disease causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every organ system in the body.

An estimated 1.5 million Americans live with some form of Lupus, including approximately 23,000 Alabamians.

Lupus disproportionately affects women of childbearing age, with African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans two to three times more likely to develop the disease.

More than half of people with Lupus wait four or more years and visit three or more doctors before receiving correct diagnosis.