HR0729LRB097 16971 GRL 62161 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Currently, some 8 million women in the United
3States are living with heart disease, yet only one in 5
4American women believe that heart disease is her greatest
5health threat; and
 
6    WHEREAS, 90% of women have one or more risk factors for
7developing heart disease; and
 
8    WHEREAS, 26% of women die within a year of suffering a
9heart attack, compared with 19% of men; and
 
10    WHEREAS, While one in 30 American women die from breast
11cancer each year, one in 3 die of cardiovascular disease; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of over
13419,000 American females each year, almost one death per
14minute; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Only 43% of African-American women and 44% of
16Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health
17risk, compared with 60% of white women; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Nearly as many women die of heart disease, stroke,
19and all other cardiovascular diseases than the next 3 leading

 

 

HR0729- 2 -LRB097 16971 GRL 62161 r

1causes of death combined, including all cancers; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Only 16% of women surveyed in 2009 identified
3cardiovascular disease as the greatest health problem facing
4them; and
 
5    WHEREAS, In women, heart disease is too often a silent
6killer, compared with most men; less than one-third of women in
7a recent survey reported any early warning signs, such as chest
8pain or discomfort, before a heart attack; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Common symptoms for women included pain of the
10jaw, arm, or back, but most reported a delay in seeking
11treatments after the symptoms began anywhere from 15 minutes to
122 weeks; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Women are less likely to call 911 for themselves
14when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than if someone
15else were having a heart attack; and
 
16    WHEREAS, "Go Red For Women" is the American Heart
17Association's national call to increase awareness about heart
18disease, the leading cause of death for women, and to inspire
19women to take charge of their heart health; and
 
20    WHEREAS, All women should learn their own personal risk for

 

 

HR0729- 3 -LRB097 16971 GRL 62161 r

1heart disease by using tools such as the American Heart
2Association's "My Life Check", the "Go Red For Women Heart
3CheckUp", and "Go Red For Women Better U", and by talking to
4their healthcare provider; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Making the right choices relating to proper
6nutrition, physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle
7choices are essential to living a heart healthy life;
8therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that,
11in recognition of the importance of the ongoing fight against
12heart disease and stroke, we designate the month of February
1320one2 as "Go Red For Women Month" in the State of Illinois;
14and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That we urge all citizens to show their support
16for women's health, join the fight against heart disease and
17stroke, increase their awareness of these deadly diseases, and
18empower women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease
19and stroke so that thousands of lives can be saved each year.