[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        DYSTONIA AWARENESS MONTH

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of 
September as Dystonia Awareness Month.
  Currently, it is estimated that at least 300,000 individuals in North 
America suffer from dystonia, making it more common than Huntington's, 
muscular dystrophy, and ALS. Dystonia may be inherited or caused by 
specific factors such as trauma, certain medications, and additional 
medical conditions. For most people with dystonia, the cause remains 
unknown and there is currently no cure.
  Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder that causes muscles to 
contract and spasm involuntarily. It affects men, women, and children. 
Dystonia can be generalized, affecting all major muscle groups, and 
resulting in twisting, repetitive movements and abnormal postures. It 
can also be focal, affecting a specific part of the body such as legs, 
arms, hands, neck, face, mouth, eyelids, or vocal cords. Dystonia is 
not usually fatal, but it is a chronic disorder producing symptoms that 
vary in degrees of frequency, intensity, disability, and pain depending 
on the type of dystonia. The inability to predict or control the 
movements of the legs, arms, hands, neck, shoulders, face, eyelids, 
jaw, tongue, and/or vocal cords has a profound impact on an 
individual's life. Medical literature associates the onset of dystonia 
with traumatic injury, particularly traumatic head/brain injuries. Our 
men and women in uniform face a disproportionate risk of developing 
dystonia as a result of an injury sustained during their military 
service.
  The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, which works to raise 
awareness of dystonia is a nationwide organization that serves the 
community. Beyond awareness, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation 
provides the dystonia community with support, education, advocacy, and 
the promotion of research into the causes of and care of dystonia. I 
have long known the Farber family and have seen their contributions and 
passion for the support of dystonia related research and awareness.
  I call on my colleagues to recognize the goals and ideals of Dystonia 
Awareness Month by supporting federal activities that improve lives of 
patients impacted by dystonia including research programs at the 
National Institutes of Health.

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