Bipartisan congressional legislation recognizing February as American Heart Month is designed to bring greater awareness to the cardiovascular public health crisis and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to combat heart disease throughout the year.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, along with fellow co-chair Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), authored the resolution (H.Res. 128) in honor of the approximately 655,000 Americans who die from some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans—and more women die from heart disease than all cancers combined,” said Rep. Smith. “We must do more to stop this deadly disease. Among its many strong recommendations, our legislation urges deployment of U.S. technical expertise and more research on CVD to help fight this ongoing public health crisis.”
Already the world’s leading cause of preventable death, cardiovascular disease also significantly increases risks of COVID-19 according to the CDC.
“As Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, not to mention a stroke survivor, I know all too well the importance of listening to your body and staying ‘heart-healthy,’” said Rep. Beatty. “To that effect, there are many simple steps you can take right now to decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease, including exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and knowing the early warning signs. Don’t be another statistic, ‘Go Red’ this Heart Month and all year long—your heart will thank you later!”
“In my home state of New Jersey alone, there are approximately 420,000 people currently affected by coronary heart disease—the most common type of CVD—according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH),” Smith continued. “We must redouble our efforts to fully understand the causes and risks of CVD and raise public awareness about the important lifesaving steps we can all take to reduce the risks and prevent heart disease in the first place.”
The resolution is supported by two of the leading organizations committed to promoting American heart health: the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.
“Heart Month has taken on added importance this year during a pandemic that poses elevated risks for people with a history of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in men and women,” said Mitch Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAHA, FAAN, president of the American Heart Association and professor of neurology and epidemiology at Columbia University in New York City. “Our work to raise awareness of heart disease, educate high-risk populations about its warning signs, address growing racial disparities in heart health and fund scientific research has never been more important. We thank Representative Chris Smith and all of our partners in Congress who work in support of longer, healthier lives for everyone in this country.”
“Noncommunicable diseases—heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and diabetes—are responsible for almost 70 percent of deaths worldwide. The burden of heart disease and its underlying risk factors not only continues to grow in the United States, but is increasing at an alarming rate in developing countries, widening health disparities around the world. Additionally, the ongoing battle against COVID-19 shows how vital awareness of and action to reduce heart disease remains,” said American College of Cardiology President Athena Poppas, MD, FACC. “Many risk factors for heart disease increase risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infection, further underscoring the importance of reducing the global burden of heart disease. The American College of Cardiology thanks Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition Co-Chairs Reps. Joyce Beatty and Chris Smith for their ongoing efforts to raise awareness and end the global health crisis of heart disease. The ACC and the entire cardiovascular community is committed to working with Congress to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health in Heart Month and beyond.”
You can help lower your risk of heart disease by following the American Heart Association’s “Simple Seven” steps: get active, eat better, lose weight, control cholesterol, manage blood pressure, reduce blood sugar, and stop smoking.
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