2011 Assembly Joint Resolution 7
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: recognizing American Heart Month and Wear Red Day.
Whereas, cardiovascular disease accounts for one out of three deaths nationwide; and
Whereas, cardiovascular disease is the nation's leading cause of death and costliest disease with direct and indirect costs estimated to be $228 billion every year; and
Whereas, nearly 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds; and
Whereas, nearly one in three deaths due to cardiovascular disease occurs before the age of 75 years; and
Whereas, an estimated 785,000 people in the U.S. will have a new coronary attack, an estimated 470,000 people nationwide will have a recurrent attack, and an additional 195,000 “silent" heart attacks will occur in the U.S. this year; and
Whereas, 14,805 die from cardiovascular disease in Wisconsin each year; and
Whereas, nearly as many women die of heart disease, stroke, and all other cardiovascular diseases than the next four leading causes of death combined, including all cancers; and
Whereas, only 16 percent of women surveyed in 2009 identified cardiovascular disease as the greatest health problem facing them; and
Whereas, the research is clear that there are preventive strategies, as well as community-based strategies, that can increase survival rates from cardiovascular disease; and
Whereas, the American Heart Association's 2020 impact goal seeks to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent through research, population-level and community-level interventions, and public health and policy measures; and
Whereas, Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association's national call to increase awareness about heart disease—the leading cause of death for women—and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health; and
Whereas, all women should learn their own personal risk for heart disease, using tools such as the American Heart Association's My Life Check, Go Red For Women Heart CheckUp, Go Red For Women Better U, and by talking to their healthcare providers; and
Whereas, making the right choices relating to proper nutrition and physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle choices are essential to living a heart healthy life; and
Whereas, the American Heart Association is celebrating February 2011 as American Heart Month and promoting education and awareness by encouraging citizens to learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
assembly, the senate concurring, That in recognition of the importance of the ongoing fight against heart disease and stroke, the members of the Wisconsin legislature do hereby proclaim February 2011 to be American Heart Month and February 4, 2011, to be Wear Red Day and urge all citizens to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day by wearing the color red and recognizing the critical importance of tools and skills that will increase survival rates from cardiac arrest and potentially save thousands of lives each year.
