[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WOMEN'S HEART ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JOYCE BEATTY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2016

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, did you know that the rate of heart disease 
is increasing the fastest among young women, especially among African-
American and Latina women, and that stroke is still considered a silent 
killer?
  Young women need to better understand the risks and how to better 
prevent heart disease--in addition to spreading the word to their loved 
ones.
  That is why I support The Ohio State University and the Women's Heart 
Alliance's new unique partnership to screen and educate college-aged 
women about their risk for heart disease and how they can prevent it.
  Death rates from heart disease have been virtually stagnant in young 
women over the last two decades.
  In the United States, heart disease kills more women each year than 
all cancers combined.
  Yet, forty-five percent of women are unaware that it is their number 
one health threat.
  Mr. Speaker, we need awareness, education and advocacy to tackle this 
epidemic.
  Dr. Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Associate Vice President for Health 
Promotion, Chief Wellness Officer, and Dean and Professor of the 
College of Nursing at The Ohio State University said it best, ``We must 
act with urgency to teach young women how they can prevent heart 
disease by engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as 30 minutes 
of physical activity 5 days a week, 5 fruits and vegetables per day, no 
smoking, and stress reduction. They and their loved ones' lives depend 
on it.''
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot leave women's health to chance.
  Heart disease is deadly, but it's also largely preventable.
  Let's help educate young women in my district, across Ohio, and 
beyond about the risk factors of cardiovascular disease, so they 
develop heart-healthy behaviors long before the symptoms of heart 
disease ever develop.

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