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“YOUR HEART IS IN YOUR HANDS”
CARDIOVASCULAR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
WHEREAS, heart disease is the leading cause of
death in the United States and is a major cause
of disability; and
WHEREAS, heart disease, stroke, and other
cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of
American women; and
WHEREAS, almost 700,000 people die of heart
disease in the U.S. each year, accounting for
about 29% of US deaths, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and federal sources; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Heart
Association, every 36 seconds, an American dies
of cardiovascular disease; and
WHEREAS, according to these same sources, more
than 5.2 million Americans are living with
congestive heart failure and nearly 80 million
Americans have one or more types of
cardiovascular disease; and
WHEREAS, high blood cholesterol is a major risk
factor for heart disease and about 17% of adult
Americans have high blood cholesterol; and
WHEREAS, conditions such as high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and
smoking can lead to heart disease; and
WHEREAS, a 10% decrease in total blood
cholesterol levels can reduce the incidence of
heart disease by as much as 30%; and
WHEREAS, each year, one particular condition –
atherosclerosis, the progressive buildup of
plaque in the inner walls of the arteries – is
linked to nearly 25% of all deaths in the US;
and
WHEREAS, for many atherosclerosis is a silent
disease, with no visible signs or symptoms until
it suddenly leads to a heart attack or stroke;
and
WHEREAS, in 2007, the American Heart Association
estimates that the direct and indirect costs for
cardiovascular disease will be $431.8 billion;
and
WHEREAS, this estimate includes costs of more
than $151.6 billion annually for coronary heart
disease; and
WHEREAS, workplaces are greatly affected with
indirect costs that are estimated to top $148.6
billion in 2007, with those indirect costs
relating to lost productivity; and
WHEREAS, reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol can be
cost effective in three ways: direct economic
savings from decreased hospital and ambulatory
services, preventing coronary heart disease
mortality, and preventing the disability,
distress, and pain associated with coronary
heart disease; and
WHEREAS, blood cholesterol levels can be lowered
through dietary changes, increased physical
activity, weight control, drug therapy, or a
combination of these; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National
Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) calls on
states to assess their current heart health
situation and determine the risk factors at
stake, which may include identifying barriers to
quality cardiovascular treatment among
constituents, developing action steps for
addressing care issues, and/or launching
statewide cardiovascular awareness campaigns to
educate their citizens about the disease, its
symptoms, and the ability to better manage
cardiovascular disease through prevention and
treatment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NLGA will support this
effort by assisting lieutenant governors in
engaging constituents through the cardiovascular
awareness campaign “Your Heart is in Your
Hands;” and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that state governments
consider the benefits of continuing support for
existing or establishing task forces,
commissions or other committees dedicated to
bettering the heart health of the states.
As passed March 13, 2008.
Sponsor:
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia
Co-Sponsors:
Lt. Governor Barbara O’ Brien, Colorado
Lt. Governor John Bohlinger, Montana
Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, Nebraska
Lt. Governor Patty Judge, Iowa
Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, Kentucky
Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Pennsylvania
Lt. Governor James ‘Duke’Aiona, Hawaii
Sec. of State Jan Brewer, Arizona
Lt. Governor Gregory Francis, USVI
Lt. Governor John Carney, Delaware
Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Florida
Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Alabama
Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, Vermont
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