[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    RECOGNIZING AMERICAN HEART MONTH

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, today is Valentine's Day; and as we 
take the time to shower our loved ones with chocolates, flowers and 
poems, I ask that we share the most important gift of all, the gift of 
life. Heart disease kills nearly 1 million Americans every year and is 
responsible for over 40 percent of the deaths in our country. Every 33 
seconds, an American dies from cardiovascular disease.
  This February marks American Heart Month; and unfortunately, too many 
Americans are not prepared to deal with cardiac emergencies. But by 
becoming familiar with these serious symptoms, it can mean the 
difference between life and death. Symptoms such as uncomfortable 
pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest 
lasting for more than a few minutes, pain spreading to the shoulders, 
arms or neck, and chest discomfort with light-headedness, faintness, 
sweating nausea, or shortness of breath.
  Madam Speaker, this Valentine's Day I ask my colleagues to raise 
awareness on these matters of the heart. It is just one way in which we 
can eliminate our Nation's number one killer.

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