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House Calls For Increased Awareness of Heart Disease Among Women

On March 24, the House approved, 420-0, a resolution (H. Res. 522) calling for increased awareness and education about the risk factors for heart disease among women. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the resolution on March 3 (see The Source, 3/5/04).

The resolution contains a number of findings, including:

  • Heart disease is the number one killer of American women;
  • According to a recent American Heart Association survey, only 13 percent of women consider heart disease their greatest health threat;
  • African Americans are at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke than Caucasians, with African American females affected at a rate of 39.6 percent compared to 23.8 percent in Caucasian females; and
  • Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for Hispanics, and responsible for 33 percent of deaths in Hispanic females.

 

According to the resolution, the House “believes that heart disease will remain the number one killer of American women unless we as a society dramatically improve education, preventative care, research, diagnostic capabilities, and treatments.” The resolution also states that the House recognizes that the more women become aware of heart disease and how to prevent it, the more likely they can make sound lifestyle changes to help reduce their risk.

Sponsor of the resolution, Rep. Vic Snyder (R-AR), pointed out that more than a half million American women “die each year from cardiovascular disease; and, in fact, more women die of cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and stroke than the next seven causes of death, including cancer. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die from heart disease and stroke than from all forms of cancers, including breast cancer.”

Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) argued, “It is very important that we, as leaders, work hard to educate women that heart disease is not just a health issue for men and that there are many proven lifestyle changes that women can make to help prevent heart disease. Not only is it important that we as Members of Congress stress the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease, but we must continue to support funding to medical researchers and professionals that study these diseases and teachers and public health officials that disseminate such information to women at high risk.”