14R-050

WHEREAS, Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of women yet, is often preventable; and

WHEREAS, Cardiovascular diseases cause one in three women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 43 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases; and

WHEREAS, Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, but is often undiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, yet only one in five American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat; and

WHEREAS, Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies; and

WHEREAS, Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men and women’s survival continues to widen; and

WHEREAS, Women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are if someone else were having a heart attack; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women^®movement has been impacting the health of women for 10 years and more than 627,000 women’s lives have been saved and 330 fewer women are dying every day; and

WHEREAS, In celebration of the 10^thBirthday of National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2014, Go Red For Women is asking all women across America to Go Red by wearing red and speaking red.

Get Your Numbers: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Own Your Lifestyle: Stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and eat healthy.

Realize Your Risk: Women think it won’t happen, but heart disease is the cause of 1 in 3 female deaths each year.

Educate Your Family: Make healthy food choices for you and your family. Teach your kids the importance of staying active.

Don’t be silent: Tell every woman you know that heart disease is their No. 1 killer. Raise your voice at GoRedForWomen.org.; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in recognition of the importance of the ongoing fight against heart disease and stroke, hereby proclaims Friday, February 7^th of 2014 to be "National Wear Red Day" in Rhode Island. We moreover urge all citizens to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day by the wearing of the color red. By increasing awareness, speaking up about heart disease, and empowering women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, we can save thousands of lives each year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island office of the American Heart Association.