House Committee Calls For Increased Awareness of Heart Disease Among Women

On March 3, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 522) calling for increased awareness and education about the risk factors for heart disease among women.

Sponsored by Rep. Vic Snyder (R-AR), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

• Heart disease is the number one killer of American women;
• Heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than half a million women each year;
• According to a recent American Heart Association survey, only 13 percent of women consider heart disease their greatest health threat;
• African Americans are at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke than Caucasians, with African American females affected at a rate of 39.6 percent compared to 23.8 percent in Caucasian females; and
• Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for Hispanics, and responsible for 33 percent of deaths in Hispanic females.

According to the resolution, the House “believes that heart disease will remain the number one killer of American women unless we as a society dramatically improve education, preventative care, research, diagnostic capabilities, and treatments.” The resolution also states that the House recognizes that the more women become aware of heart disease and how to prevent it, the more likely they can make sound lifestyle changes to help reduce their risk.