The International Essential Tremor Foundation Announces California's Support for National Essential Tremor Awareness Month
Lenexa, KS (PRWEB) March 31, 2014 -- As part of National Essential Tremor Awareness Month, the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) is delighted to announce that Senator Bill Monning has officially proclaimed the state’s support of Essential Tremor Awareness Month, joining others nationwide in recognizing the need to learn more and seek greater understanding of a condition that affects millions of Americans. Local IETF support group leader Lynda Dome was instrumental in securing this proclamation.
Essential tremor, a neurological movement disorder commonly referred to as “ET”, affects an estimated 10 million people in the United States alone. The condition is often characterized by rhythmic, involuntary and uncontrollable shaking of the hands and arms during movement, but it sometimes can also affect the head, voice, legs and trunk. ET is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease.
While not life threatening, ET is a serious and progressive condition that can significantly affect a person’s quality of life – socially, professionally and emotionally. People with ET often have difficulty with everyday activities such as getting dressed, eating, drinking, speaking or writing. And despite the large number of people directly affected by ET there is still very little awareness of the disorder.
“Quality of life is a big issue for people living with essential tremor,” explains Calif. support group leader volunteer Lynda Dome. “People with ET become disabled at worst and feel frustrated or embarrassed at best. The condition affects people of all ages, including children! I believe greater public awareness is critical to increasing accurate diagnoses and alleviating the embarrassment factor. That is why it was so important to me that my state officially recognize awareness month.”
“March is an important time for all those affected by ET,” said IETF Executive Director Catherine Rice. “We believe that increased awareness will bring about better treatment options and a cure for this life-altering condition. The designation of March as National Essential Tremor Awareness Month provides our organization with another platform to educate the public about the condition, as well as raise much needed funds to find a cure.”
The IETF provides support and education, advocates for greater awareness, and provides funding for critical research into the causes of and a cure for essential tremor. March 2014 marks the fourth anniversary of House Resolution (H.RES.) 1264, sponsored by former Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District - Kansas), officially designating the month of March as “National Essential Tremor Awareness Month.”
About The International Essential Tremor Foundation:
Headquartered in Lenexa, KS, and founded in 1988, the International Essential Tremor Foundation is the leading organization in the world dedicated to those affected by essential tremor. The mission of the IETF is to fund research that will find the cause of essential tremor and lead to better treatments and a cure, increase awareness about ET, and provide educational materials, tools and support to healthcare providers, the public, and those directly affected by ET.
The IETF has distributed more than $685,000 in research grants, to fund 27 promising studies, in the search for the cause of ET. The Foundation has hosted numerous community awareness events across the U.S. to provide those affected with the basic knowledge necessary to become their own advocate when seeking treatment. And, the IETF also provides assistance to a vast network of support groups around the world. To learn more about essential tremor and the IETF mission, visit the IETF website at http://www.essentialtremor.org.
Contacts:
Catherine Rice, IETF Executive Director
crice(at)essentialtremor(dot)org
913.341.3880
Lynda Dome, IETF Support Group Leader (volunteer)
SiliconValleyGroup(at)yahoo(dot)com
408.847.8649
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Catherine Rice, Int'l Essential Tremor Foundation, http://www.essentialtremor.org, +1 (888) 387-3667, [email protected]
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