[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S750-S751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMERICAN HEART MONTH

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize February 
as American Heart Month. As its sponsoring organization, the American 
Heart Association (AHA) plays a major role in advocacy at both the 
national and local levels through activities to increase public 
awareness of health concerns. Their messages this month is ``Be an 
American Heartsaver! Know the warning signs of heart attack. Call 9-1-
1. Give CPR.''
  These three simple steps are aimed at reducing the number of lives 
lost every day--nearly 700--because the victims were unable to reach a 
hospital in time. The harsh fact is that cardiovascular diseases are 
the number one killer of men and women. In 1997, 34 percent of deaths 
from cardiovascular disease occurred prematurely, before the victims 
reached age 75. In total, more than 953,000 deaths were due to 
cardiovascular disease in 1997; 47 percent of those victims were women 
and 53 percent men.
  During American Heart Month, thousands of AHA volunteers across the 
country canvass neighborhoods to raise funds and provide educational 
information about cardiovascular diseases and stroke. This is where the 
AHA makes its mark through its steadfast pursuit to reduce disability 
and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. By educating the 
American public about the early warnings signs of heart attacks and 
stroke, the members and volunteers of the AHA know that individuals 
will be better prepared to save themselves--and others around them.

[[Page S751]]

  The AHA has produced educational kits for Americans of all ages. 
Accordingly to the AHA, helping children understand the early warning 
signs of heart problems can have a tremendous impact when their family 
is concerned. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes provide Americans, 
regardless of their age, with the tools to assist in cardiac 
emergencies.
  With the many advances medical science has experienced, the list of 
measures we can take in prevention of cardiovascular disease continues 
to grow. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol, becoming 
active through regular exercise, and stopping smoking are some of the 
easiest steps to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  The AHA has emphasized these measures in the hopes of reducing 
cardiovascular disease, stroke, and the risk of these diseases by 25 
percent over the next eight years. In addition, the AHA runs an Active 
Partnership program for cardiac patients to help them take 
responsibility for reducing their cardiovascular risks in the future.
  My state of Minnesota has long been on the frontline of health care 
and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released last 
week indicated Minnesota as having the lowest occurrence of 
cardiovascular disease among women nationwide. We must continue to 
reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in Minnesota, but the 
study suggests we are already heading in the right direction.
  As American Heart Month comes to a close, I commend the American 
Heart Association and its army of volunteers for putting their hearts 
to work to see that the hearts of others continue to beat a little bit 
longer and a little bit stronger. They join a long list of health care-
related organizations, professionals, and industries making Minnesota a 
healthier place to live.

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