HOUSE MEMORIAL 35

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Nora Espinoza

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 3, 2015 AS "WEAR RED DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND URGING ALL CITIZENS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT BY WEARING THE COLOR RED.

     WHEREAS, according to American heart association statistics, heart disease is the number-one killer of women, even though eighty percent of cardiac events can be prevented; and

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

     WHEREAS, an estimated forty-four million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases; and

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

     WHEREAS, since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease; and

     WHEREAS, women comprise only twenty-four percent of participants in all heart-related studies; and

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

     WHEREAS, about five and eight-tenths percent of all Caucasian women, seven and six-tenths percent of African American women and five and six-tenths of Hispanic women have coronary heart disease; and

     WHEREAS, almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms; and

     WHEREAS, the American heart association, through the Go Red for Women movement, encourages women to take the following steps to reduce the incidence of heart-disease-related deaths:

          A. obtaining their blood pressure and cholesterol information from their physicians;

          B. making choices to stop smoking, lose weight, exercise regularly and eat healthy foods;

          C. advocating for more education related to heart disease in women;

          D. educating family members about healthy food choices and the importance of staying active; and

          E. communicating with other women about the dangers of heart disease; and

     WHEREAS, with increased awareness and communication about heart disease, and greater empowerment of women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, thousands of lives can be saved each year;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 3, 2015 be declared "Wear Red Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all New Mexicans be urged to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day by wearing the color red; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

- 3 -