SENATE MEMORIAL 23
52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015
INTRODUCED BY
Howie C. Morales
A MEMORIAL
DECLARING FEBRUARY 3, 2015 AS "WEAR RED DAY" IN THE SENATE 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 SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 3, 2015 be declared "Wear Red Day" in the senate; 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.
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