[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E171]]



                 IN RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2002

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today is Valentine's Day--a day 
when we celebrate matters of the heart. It is, therefore, quite 
appropriate that we recognize February as American Heart Month.
  Over 61 million Americans--1 in 5 adults--have one or more types of 
cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a leading cause of long-term 
disability. Since 1990, CVD has been the number one killer in the 
United States every year but one. Every 33 seconds an American dies of 
cardiovascular disease. Forty percent of all deaths in the United 
States and in my home state of Illinois are due to CVD. Although we 
used to think of CVD as a man's disease, it is now the leading cause of 
death for American women--and in 1999, more women than men died of 
CVD--over one half million deaths. This is a terrible health crisis 
that demands immediate attention.
  According to American Heart Association President Dr. David Faxon, 
``For each minute that passes without defibrillation and CPR, the 
chance of survival for a cardiac arrest victim decreases by 7 to 10 
percent. In order to battle this disease, more Americans have to arm 
themselves with the knowledge that is crucial to saving lives.''
  Let's mount a public awareness campaign so that Americans can reduce 
their individual CVD risk factors, and recognize and respond promptly 
to cardiac emergencies. If we can do this, we can really have a Happy 
Valentine's Day.

                          ____________________