[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1915-S1916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Collins, Ms. 
        Snowe, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Menendez):
  S. 573. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and 
the Public health Service Act to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and 
treatment of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases 
in women; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, February is American Heart Month, and 
heart disease remains the Nation's leading cause of death.
  Many women believe that heart disease is a man's disease and, 
unfortunately, do not review it as a serious health threat. However, 
every year, since 1984, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more 
women than men. In fact, cardiovascular disease death rates have 
declined significantly in men since 1979, while the death rate for 
women hasn't experienced the same rate of decline. The numbers are 
disturbing: cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than 
460,000 women per year; that's nearly a death a minute among females 
and nearly 12 times as many lives as claimed by breast cancer. One in 
three females has some form of cardiovascular disease. And one in four 
females dies from heart disease.
  That is why I am pleased to join my colleague from Michigan, Senator 
Stabenow, to introduce important legislation, the HEART for Women Act, 
or Heart disease Education, Analysis and Research, and Treatment for 
Women Act. This important bill improves the prevention, diagnosis and 
treatment of heart disease and stroke in women.
  In my State of Alaska--taken together--heart disease, stroke and 
other cardiovascular diseases are also the leading cause of death, 
totaling nearly 800 deaths each year. Women in Alaska have higher death 
rates from stroke than do women nationally. Mortality among Native 
Alaskan women is dramatically on the rise, whereas, it is actually 
declining among Caucasian women in the Lower 48.
  Despite being the number one killer, many women and their health care 
providers do not know that the biggest health care threat to women is 
heart disease. In fact, a recent survey found that 43 percent of women 
still don't know that heart disease is the number one killer of women.
  Perhaps even more troubling, is the lack of awareness among health 
care providers. According to American

[[Page S1916]]

Heart Association figures, less than one in five physicians recognize 
that more women suffer from heart disease than men. Among primary care 
physicians, only 8 percent of primary care physicians--and even more 
astounding--only 17 percent of cardiologists recognize that more women 
die of heart disease than men. Additionally, studies show that women 
are less likely to receive aggressive treatment because heart disease 
often manifests itself differently in women than men.
  This is why the HEART Act is so important. Our bill takes a three-
pronged approach to reducing the heart disease death rate for women, 
through; 1. education; 2. research; and, 3. screening.
  First, the bill would authorize the Department of Health and Human 
Services to educate healthcare professionals and older women about 
unique aspects of care in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of 
women with heart disease and stroke.
  Second, the bill would require disclosure of gender-specific health 
information that is already being reported to the Federal Government. 
Many agencies already collect information based on gender, but do not 
disseminate or analyze the gender differences. This bill would release 
that information so that it could be studied, and important health 
trends in women could be detected.
  Lastly, the bill would authorize the expansion of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention's WISEWOMAN program (the Well-Integrated 
Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation program). The 
WISEWOMAN program provides free heart disease and stroke screening to 
low-income uninsured women, but the program is currently limited to 
just 14 States.
  My State of Alaska is fortunate to have two WISEWOMAN program sites. 
These programs screen for high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose 
in Native Alaskan women and provide invaluable counseling on diet and 
exercise. One program in Alaska alone has successfully screened 1,437 
Alaskan Native women and has provided them with a culturally 
appropriate intervention program that has produced live-saving results.
  Mr. President, heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular 
diseases cost Americans more than any other disease--an estimated $430 
billion in 2007, including more than $280 billion in direct medical 
costs. To put that number in perspective, that's about the same as the 
projected Federal deficit for 2007. We, as a nation, can control those 
costs--prevention through early detection is the most cost-effective 
way to combat this disease.
  Tomorrow, as we celebrate Valentine's Day and see images of hearts 
just about everywhere, let us not forget that the heart is much more 
than a symbol--it is a vital organ that can't be taken for granted. 
Coronary disease can be effectively treated and sometimes even 
prevented--it does not have to be the number one cause of death in 
women. And, that is why I encourage my colleagues to support the HEART 
for Women Act.
                                 ______