HOUSE MEMORIAL 12

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Nora Espinoza

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 2, 2016 AS "WEAR RED DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND URGING ALL CITIZENS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR WOMEN AND THE FIGHT AGAINST HEART DISEASE 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 eighty seconds; 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, only thirty-six percent of African American women and thirty-four percent of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with sixty-five percent of Caucasian women; and

     WHEREAS, women involved with the American heart association's go red for women movement live healthier lives, and nearly ninety percent have made at least one healthy behavior change; and

     WHEREAS, go red for women encourages women to take charge of their health and schedule a well-woman visit to learn about their health status and risk for diseases; and

     WHEREAS, go red for women is asking all Americans to go red by wearing red and speaking red; and

     WHEREAS, women are encouraged to:

          A. get their numbers: ask for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose to be checked;

          B. own their lifestyle: stop smoking, lose weight, be physically active and eat heathy;

          C. raise their voice: advocate for more women-related research and education;

          D. educate family members: make healthy food choices and teach kids about the importance of staying active; and

          E. donate: show support with a donation of time and money;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 2, 2016 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.

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