[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E226-E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK FOLEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to help 
recognize February as American Heart Month.
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition I am well 
aware of the seriousness that cardiovascular disease plays in the lives 
of approximately 62 million Americans today. The statistics are 
staggering:
  One million Americans die from some form of cardiovascular disease 
each year--one American every 33 seconds.
  Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, topping 
cancer (549,000 deaths), Alzheimer's Disease (44,536) and HIV/AIDS 
(14,802).
  Women in particular are greatly affected, with one in five having 
some form of cardiovascular disease.
  Heart disease and stroke are expected to cost the U.S. over $350 
billion in 2003.
  We should not be without hope, however, since cardiovascular diseases 
can be treated aggressively with a variety of procedures. Various 
treatment options include medicines for high blood pressure--a leading 
risk factor of heart disease and stroke, medicines that lower 
cholesterol, clot-buster medicines that can save the lives of heart 
attack patients and medicines that can prevent repeat heart attacks.
  These means of combating heart disease are not cheap. This is why I 
have co-sponsored legislation in the past that will add more benefits 
to Medicare recipients, covering procedures such as cholesterol 
screening and medical nutrition therapy. I am looking forward to re-
introducing the Medicare Wellness Act in the 108th Congress.
  Even with the improved access to medical procedures and medicines, 
the American people still need to be educated on the issue of

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cardiovascular disease and its prevention. The U.S. Surgeon General 
considers over 61 percent of the American public overweight. We must 
continue to stress the need for including a healthy diet and regular 
exercise into our daily living. Education will lead to increased 
prevention.
  Healthcare will be an important issue facing Congress this year. We 
must continue to provide funding for preventative education programs in 
addition to funding for research to stop the number one killer of 
Americans this year--cardiovascular disease.
  I will continue to work as Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and 
Stroke Coalition in order to increase the awareness of strokes and 
heart disease among the Members of Congress and the Administration.

                          ____________________