HR0988 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0988 LRB099 18742 GRL 43126 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet 80% of cardiac events can be prevented; and

WHEREAS, Cardiovascular diseases cause one in three women's deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 44 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases; and

WHEREAS, Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, yet only one in five American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat; and

WHEREAS, Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease; and

WHEREAS, Women comprise only 24% of participants in all heart-related studies; and

WHEREAS, Women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are if someone else was having a heart attack; and

WHEREAS, Only 43% of African American women and 44% of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with 60% of Caucasian women; and

WHEREAS, Women involved with the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement live healthier lives and nearly 90% have made at least one healthy behavior change; and

WHEREAS, Go Red For Women is asking all Americans to Go Red by wearing red and speaking red; the objects of this initiative include: Get Your Numbers by asking your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol; Own Your Lifestyle by quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising, and eating healthy; Raise Your Voice by advocating for more women-related research and education; Educate Your Family by teaching your kids the importance of staying active and making healthy food choices for you and your family; and Don't Be Silent by telling every woman you know that heart disease is her number one killer and by raising your voice at GoRedForWomen.org; and

WHEREAS, By increasing awareness, speaking up about heart disease, and empowering women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, we can save thousands of lives each year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the importance of the ongoing fight against heart disease and stroke by designating February 5, 2016 as "Wear Red Day" in the State of Illinois and urging all citizens to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day through the wearing of the color red.