[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HEART DISEASE AWARENESS

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                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2004

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, heart disease is the leading cause of death 
for all Americans. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 
500,000 women die of cardiovascular disease each year. For women, heart 
disease is responsible for more deaths than the next seven causes of 
death combined, including all forms of cancer. And shockingly, only 8 
percent of women think that heart disease is a major personal concern.
  These statistics are a sign that the message is not getting out. I 
rise today, in the middle of American Heart Month, to call attention to 
heart health and to encourage women to learn about the signs and causes 
of cardiovascular disease.
  This past Friday, February 6, 2004, the American Heart Association 
sponsored ``Go Red for Women'' day. This initiative, encouraging 
individuals to wear red to increase awareness of heart disease, is an 
important step in making sure women take back control of their personal 
health. Both men and women must educate themselves on the warning signs 
of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest. Women in particular must 
know the risk factors that they can control, including diabetes, high 
blood pressure, tobacco use, cholesterol, physical inactivity, and 
obesity because one in ten American women aged 45 to 64 and one in four 
American women aged 64 or older has some form of heart disease.
  Not only can well informed women and mothers improve their own 
health, but as the family gatekeeper, mothers can also help put 
children on the path to a lifetime of good heart health. We know 
childhood obesity and diabetes are pandemic in our society, but there 
are things we can do to stop the growing trend of children exhibiting 
heart disease risk-factors at such an early age. We all must work to 
ensure that our families are eating healthy, well-balanced meals and we 
must make sure that our families are getting enough physical activity. 
These simple but important efforts will mean a great deal to the future 
health of our family members and our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you will join me in encouraging all Americans to 
contact the American Heart Association either through their Website or 
over the phone to find out the information that can save their lives. I 
hope my colleagues in the House will join me in this fight against 
heart disease, our Nation's leading killer.

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