,,iii  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #eae  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,july #bc1
 #bjad ,mr4 ,casey 7for himself and ,mr4
 ,roberts7 submitted the following      
resolution2 which was considered and    
agreed to  ,,resolution  ,designating   
,july #bd1 #bjad1 as ,international     
,self-,care ,day4  ,whereas chronic     
diseases impose high costs in the       
,united ,states in the forms of human   
capital1 medical expenditures1 and      
economic productivity2 ,whereas chronic 
diseases are the leading cause of       
disability and death in the ,united     
,states1 and chronic diseases account   
for #g out of #aj deaths in the ,united 
,states2 ,whereas approximately #be     
percent of individuals with a chronic   
disease have some limitation on daily   
living activities and may be restricted 
from working or attending school2       
,whereas chronic diseases account for #c
 of every #d spent on health care in the
 ,united ,states1 including-- 7#a7      

#dcb1jjj1jjj1jjj spent annually on heart
 disease and stroke2  7#b7              
#agd1jjj1jjj1jjj spent annually on      
diabetes2  7#c7 #aed1jjj1jjj1jjj spent  
annually on lung disease2 and  7#d7     
#adh1jjj1jjj1jjj spent annually on      
,alzheimer's ,disease2 ,whereas the     
adoption of proactive healthy behaviors 
and lifestyles by individuals will      
materially reduce the burden of chronic 
diseases in the ,united ,states2        
,whereas it is not possible to meet the 
enormous challenges presented by chronic
 diseases1 the aging of the population1 
and other demographic changes without   
engaging individuals to be active       
participants in maintaining their health
 and well-being2 ,whereas self-care can 
reduce the human and economic costs of  
chronic diseases1 help individuals      
achieve better overall health1 and      
prevent or delay many diseases2 ,whereas
 self-care includes simple actions that 
individuals can take for themselves and 
their families to stay healthy1 treat   

minor illnesses1 and prevent or manage  
long-term conditions2 ,whereas self-care
 entails a lifelong habit and culture   
of-- 7#a7 making healthy lifestyle      
choices on a daily basis2  7#b7         
practicing good hygiene to prevent      
infection and illness2  7#c7 avoiding   
unhealthy and risky actions2  7#d7      
monitoring for signs and symptoms of    
changes in health2  7#e7 taking care of 
minor ailments2 and  7#f7 knowing when  
to consult a doctor1 pharmacist1 or     
other health care professional2 ,whereas
 individuals need greater access to     
tools that enable better self-care1     
including those that improve health     
literacy1 promote good nutrition and    
overall wellness1 facilitate physical   
activity1 and prevent and manage chronic
 diseases2 ,whereas over-the-counter    
medicines 7commonly known as self-care  
medicines in other regions of the world7
 are some of the most important         
self-care tools1 and help individuals   
improve wellness1 treat everyday        

ailments1 and prevent chronic diseases2 
,whereas every #a spent on              
over-the-counter medicines in the       
,united ,states each year saves the     
health care system in the ,united       
,states #f to #g1 accounting for        
#ajb1jjj1jjj1jjj in annual savings      
relative to treatment alternatives2     
,whereas self-care and the responsible  
use of over-the-counter medicines can   
help individuals avoid unnecessary      
visits to health care professionals1    
easing the burden on those health care  
professionals2 ,whereas self-care       
empowers individuals with higher        
self-esteem1 improves wellness1 and     
reduces the use of health care services2
 ,whereas individuals in the ,united    
,states have not sufficiently taken     
advantage of the potential of self-care 
to improve health1 reduce the burden of 
chronic disease1 and strengthen the     
sustainability of the health care system
 in the ,united ,states2 and ,whereas   
achieving the full potential of         

self-care is the shared responsibility  
of consumers1 policymakers1 regulators1 
and health care professionals3 ,now1    
therefore1 be it  ,that the ,senate--   
7#a7 designates ,july #bd1 #bjad1 as    
,international ,self-,care ,day2  7#b7  
recognizes the importance of improving  
awareness of self-care and the value    
self-care represents for the people of  
the ,united ,states2  7#c7 encourages   
patients1 government officials1 health  
care professionals1 manufacturers and   
providers of medical products1 and the  
media to use ,international ,self-,care 
,day to highlight the benefits of       
self-care2 and  7#d7 acknowledges that  
,international ,self-,care ,day is      
recognized by health care organizations 
and parties with an interest in health  
care around the world4