[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6081]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING MAY AS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 
                            AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of 
May as Stroke Awareness Month and High Blood Pressure Awareness Month. 
I encourage Americans to fight against stroke and high blood pressure 
and support individuals and their families who suffer from these 
devastating and debilitating afflictions.
  In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death and 
the leading cause of long-term disability. In fact, one in four deaths 
in California is related to heart disease and stroke. While all ages, 
races and classes are at risk, African Americans are disproportionately 
at risk of experiencing high blood pressure and are almost twice as 
likely as other groups to experience a stroke.
  As we enter into the month of May, we can all spread knowledge on 
prevention, changing the risk factors over which we have control. The 
Stroke Association of Southern California has reported that 70 percent 
of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes, control of risk 
factors, and medical care. Several dangerous factors include physical 
inactivity and obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking.
  The good news is that efforts aimed at prevention are working. 
Between the years 2000 and 2008, stroke mortality rates in California 
have declined from an average of 61.2 deaths per 100,000 people to 38.9 
deaths per 100,000 people. We can continue this trend by raising 
awareness of risk factors and reducing inequalities in access to 
information and healthcare.
  Mr. Speaker, American families deserve healthy and happy lives. This 
month let us rededicate ourselves to helping our families and neighbors 
become more aware of the risks and causes of high blood pressure and 
stroke.

                          ____________________