[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3603]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address this 
august body and this Nation in celebration of Women's History Month. As 
we celebrate women's history, we have many women who have made major 
contributions to the advancement of this country. We have Sojourner 
Truth, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and Barbara Jordan, and other women 
who have been enormously progressive in terms of advancing the work and 
the lives of people across this Nation.
  In Women's History Month, however, we must remember the importance of 
keeping women's bodies healthy. Cardiovascular diseases are the number 
one killer of women. These diseases currently claim the lives of more 
than 500,000 women a year. Although these statistics are enormous, many 
women still are not aware of their risk for heart disease. Why is this 
the case. Studies have shown that women and doctors may not know that 
cardiovascular disease is the main killer of women, the leading cause 
of death among women, not breast cancer, or any of the other diseases 
that we try to find cures for, but cardiovascular disease is the main 
killer of women.
  Women and doctors may not realize the risk factors for cardiovascular 
disease because it is different in women than men. Women's symptoms of 
cardiovascular disease may not be recognized because they may be 
different than men, and women do not receive the same levels of 
prevention, care and treatment as men. It is important that women 
understand the risks, recognize the symptoms and reduce the risk of a 
heart attack. We must also ensure that doctors are provided with the 
proper educational tools and sensitivity understanding that they need 
in order to help women make the right decisions about their health and 
well-being.
  It is time, I believe, to reduce the numbers and to focus on living 
healthy and productive lives. Knowledge about our health is powerful, 
and working towards having and keeping good health is the first step in 
living a powerful and productive life.

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