House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2046

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

proclaiming february 3, 2012 as national wear red day in arizona.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, currently some 8 million women in the United States are living with heart disease, yet only one in five American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat; and

Whereas, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease; and

Whereas, 26 percent of women die within a year of suffering a heart attack, compared with 19 percent of men; and

Whereas, while one in 30 American women dies from breast cancer each year, one in three dies of cardiovascular disease; and

Whereas, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of over 419,000 American females each year, almost one death per minute; and

Whereas, only 43 percent of African-American women and 44 percent of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with 60 percent of white women; and

Whereas, nearly as many women die of heart disease, stroke and all other cardiovascular diseases than the next three leading causes of death combined, including all cancers; and

Whereas, only 16 percent of women surveyed in 2009 identified cardiovascular disease as the greatest health problem facing them; and

Whereas, in women, heart disease is too often a silent killer.  Fewer than a third of women in a recent survey reported any early warning signs such as chest pain or discomfort before a heart attack, compared with most men; and

Whereas, common symptoms for women included pain of the jaw, arm or back, but most reported a delay in seeking treatments after the symptoms began of anywhere from fifteen minutes to two weeks; and

Whereas, women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are if someone else were having a heart attack; and

Whereas, Go Red For Women® is the American Heart Association's national call to increase awareness about heart disease-the leading cause of death for women-and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health; and

Whereas, all women should learn their own personal risk for heart disease, using tools such as the American Heart Association's My Life Check, Go Red For Women® Heart CheckUp and Go Red For Women® Better U, and by talking to their healthcare provider; and

Whereas, making the right choices relating to proper nutrition, physical activity and other healthy lifestyle choices are essential to living a heart healthy life; and

Whereas, the truth is that our lives are in our hands.  We can stop our number one killer together by sharing the truth; we can be the difference between life and death.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1.  That the Members of the Legislature proclaim February 3, 2012 to be National Wear Red Day in Arizona.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature support increased awareness about heart disease to empower women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease and urge all citizens to show their support for women and their fight against heart disease by wearing the color red on National Wear Red Day in Arizona.