March 2025: Autoimmune Awareness Month

WHEREAS, the category of autoimmune diseases includes more than 140 disorders that are chronic and often debilitating with no known cures; and,

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems, and can be life-threatening; and,

WHEREAS, researchers have identified a close genetic relationship and common pathway of disease that exists among autoimmune diseases, explaining the clustering in individuals and families; and,

WHEREAS, the family of autoimmune diseases is under-recognized and poses a major health care challenge to the United States; and,

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that autoimmune diseases afflict up to 50,000,000 people in the United States, 80 percent of the people affected are women, and the prevalence of these conditions is rising; and,

WHEREAS, NIH estimates the annual direct health care costs associated with autoimmune diseases at more than $100,780,000,000, with an estimated 250,000 new diagnoses each year; and,

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading causes of death in women under 65 and frequently affect children and young adults, leading to a lifetime of disability; and,

WHEREAS, diagnostic tests for most autoimmune diseases are not standardized, making autoimmune diseases very difficult to diagnose; and,

WHEREAS, because autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, treatment is often delayed, sometimes resulting in irreparable damage and unnecessary suffering. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical; and,

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies reported that the United States is behind other countries in research into immune system self-recognition, the cause of autoimmune diseases; and,

WHEREAS, a study by the Autoimmune Association revealed that it takes the average patient with an autoimmune disease more than 4.5 years and costs more than $50,000 to get a correct diagnosis; and,

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for more collaboration and cross-fertilization of basic autoimmune research; and,

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for research focusing on the etiology of all autoimmune-related diseases in order to increase understanding of the root causes of these conditions rather treating the symptoms after the disease has had its destructive effect; and,

WHEREAS, the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups is a coalition of national organizations focused on autoimmune diseases working to consolidate the voices of affected patients and promote increased education, awareness, and research into all aspects of autoimmune diseases through a collaborative approach;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 2025 as Autoimmune Awareness Month in Michigan.