Women’s Heart Health Month

WHEREAS, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting men and women of every age and race; and

WHEREAS, more than 64 million Americans suffer from one or more forms of cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, strokes and congenital heart defects that can lead to heart disease; and

WHEREAS, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, causing one in three deaths each year; and

WHEREAS, only 54 percent of women recognize that heart disease is their number one cause of death; and

WHEREAS, although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a “man’s disease,” about the same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the United States; and

WHEREAS, by developing good eating habits, being physically active, taking advantage of preventive screenings, avoiding drugs, tobacco and excessive use of alcohol, individuals and families can significantly reduce the onset and burden of heart disease ; and

WHEREAS, many heart attack victims do not recognize the signs until it is too late, and only one in five are able to reach a hospital quickly enough to benefit fully from treatment; and

WHEREAS, far too many Americans are unaware of the danger of cardiac arrest, and almost 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims pass away before reaching the hospital; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby proclaim February 2014, as

Women’s Heart Health Month

in the state of Alabama and urge all citizens to join the fight against heart disease.